The Great Big Giveaway for HARPER!

Two wonderful ladies, Susan and Jennifer, who are both adoptive parents I've had the pleasure of meeting through Reece's Rainbow, have put together an online giveaway to help my friend Vera Cooper and her family raise money to BRING HOME HARPER!

Remember, Harper's situation is URGENT. She has a very serious condition and needs to be evaluated by doctors in the USA! She NEEDS to receive treatment!!!! The Coopers have 8 weeks to raise $14,000 and they need it NOW!

You can find all the giveaway details on Susan's blog The Ironic Catholic. You can also see all the great prizes up for grabs by clicking on that link! Here's a sneak peek of what's up for grabs:

Autographed books, gift cards, jewelry, accessories and MORE!












Here are the RULES:

1. Donate to the Cooper's Reece's Rainbow FSP grant. All donations are tax deductible. You can send a check to Reece's Rainbow if you prefer that to paypal.
2. Share on facebook/twitter if you wish
3. Share on your blog if you wish
4. Tell Susan how much you donated and if you shared. Jennifer and Susan promise to keep this information in complete confidence. You can tell Susan in the comments box, please, with email address for contact. (She has comment moderation on so she won't post comments on donated money, she'll just receive it, okay?) OR you can email her at ironiccatholic at yahoo dot com ; please put "giveaway" in the subject heading!




Here is the address if you'd like to send a check for your entry (and please enclose a note specifying your donation is for the Cooper Family's FSP to adopt Harper):
Reece's Rainbow
c/o The Cooper Family - "HARPER"
PO Box 4024
Gaithersburg, MD 20885

Entries key:
One entry for a blog post mention on the giveaway, linking to this post.
One entry for a Facebook or Twitter share on the giveaway, linking to this post.
Donate $1-10 = 1 entry
$11-20 = 2 entries
$21-30 = 3 entries
$31-40 = 4 entries
$41-50 = 5 entries
$51-75 = 8 entries
$76-99 = 12 entries
$100-150 = 18 entries
$151-199 = 25 entries
$200+ = 30 entries and a big virtual hug


PLEASE please donate to this family's fund and help bring Harper home!!! And you could receive some great prizes too through this great giveaway!!!! Every donation is TAX DEDUCTIBLE (what a bonus!) and even if you only share the link to The Ironic Catholic, you're still making a big contribution to this cause!!

So if you followed our journey and been touched as God provided for us...use this as a chance to help another family. Do it in honor of Sarah and Selah! Two little girls who are just days away from being taken out of the orphange forever to come home with us!!! This little girl & family NEED your help!!! Thank you for getting invovled...you are saving a REAL little girl!!!!! Just remember that!!!! She is real, she exists not too many miles from where we are now...waiting for her family...help her dream come true!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!

Angela

Today my heart is heavy...for a little girl that is in my girls orphange. We sponser her thru Life 2 Orphans. she has an Individual Caregiver who works with her daily BUT she needs a family. She is 11 years old and has many medical needs. Even more than we could handle with our other children's needs. Her caregiver has her up and invovled with the different activities daily.

Today she had her out on the veranda while we were out with our girls & I asked if I could swing her. I did for the rest of our visit. She nestled into me, and I cried. She has so many needs, it's even overwhelming to me but isn't there someone who can be her parents? She is full of joy. I've never seen her not smiling. She has a smile on her face & is so appreciative of everything. She can not walk, not sure if she'd ever be able to and she is gaining weight. She can hold herself up but does have alot of medical needs. Could you consider adopting her? If a family would step up, our family would help raise the money.... If you can't adopt her, could you give to her fund on Reece's Rainbow? she is Angela.... I'm glad I had the chance to swing her today and hold her although my eyes hurt from tears. I can only imagine what the caregivers think of me sobbing today... she needs a family, she's blind, she needs love... The bible clearly tells us to take care of the "least of them" We are not to close our eyes to the needs but we are to step up and do what we can....Please pray and do what you can for this precious soul!

Thankfulness...

I read on FB how one family has struggled with finding support from friends for their adoption and some other families added their stories.....it made me think about our situation...


We have had nothing but 100% support from our Family, friends, church & Jon's co-workers. Everyone in our lives have said YES! Go get your girls! You all have prayed for us, GIVEN to us, hugged on us, been positive in every way ....what can I say? We are beyond blessed with the people in our lives!

Thank you for not doubting even when the task seemed so big! Thank you for not being afraid of their diagnosis! Thank you for knowing how beautful they are! Thank you for trusting that we had heard God's voice! THANK YOU! Thank you for not minding the incovience of us being gone for so long! Thank you to all the folks who are taking care of our various animals and our friend who is keeping a kid for 6 weeks! Thank you to our christian school who has been supportive of our crazy schedule! Thank you Grace Church for stepping up. Thank you Josh Conely for filling in, thank you to Jon's co-workers and volunteers at the prison for stepping up! Thank you that NO ONE ever has said a cross word to us about all that had to be taken care of while we are gone! Thank you to everyone who can't wait to see them safely home with us!!!!!

Thank you for giving....from the first person (my cousin) to the last person...you all gave to their ransom, thank you!!! Some folks we have never met and may never meet this side of heaven, have given to help us get our girls home. It's unreal to think of what God's people have done in the last 5 months for these girls and for us. We didn't have to beg, to fundraise, nothing.....we did our paperwork and you all did the rest....THANK YOU! We have been blessed over and over again and it is holy to us. You did not give for some foolish reason you gave because you beleive that two little lives needed to be saved!

My heart is just overwhelemed today thinking of all that has been done for our girls! We had a friend who painted and redid their closets and room, it's so beautiful and just waiting on them. A family gave us a brand new van... it's unreal!

Thank you for letting your hearts be touched, for caring, for loving & for having faith in us! We love you guys. This journey has been an example to Steve & Shad. We talked with them about how God provided EVERYTHING We needed and how He will always do that for them. The day we got the new van, I told the boys to always remember that day, even when they are old men. Remember how God provided for us, don't forget His goodness and never take it for granted! We shared with Shad how his adoption was just this awesome and how god provided everything we needed to go get him and I beleive it was a witness to his little heart of how God cared for him & how He cares for the girls.

You all that really know us, know we are not materistic and teach our kids not to be that way either...but god will provide our needs. He provided what was needed for this adoption, not so we could go on some exotic vacation or buy a bunch of jewelery...that's not how we roll. We have our jewles and that's our kids!!!

But God has shown HImself once again to be our provider! He used His people to do it!

Thank you all again, we love you!!!!!!!!!

My blog is open....

so my blog is open again...as you can see, I've not been blogging much! I think for me, this expirence has been so intense, I've done better making like short remarks on FB:) It's not that is has been bad, just alot ot take in.

We are allowed to see the girls daily and are so thankful for the expirence we have had at our institution. We have been given nothing but kindness & good care! We feel blessed.

Sarah is totally bonded with us. It is like she has been our child forever and a day! Her little face, so like Sam's started me on a journey I could NOT say no to! It is easy for us to read her moods and respond to them. She is unbeleiveably like Sam, I don't know how else to say it. He certainly prepared us for her. She is small, she is not awfully thin but she needs to gain some weight. There is something wrong with her as far as she starts gagging if she eats much. I feed her every day and see her do it & it is scary. I beleive she is being taken care of here but there is a lack of medical services in this town, it is such a poor region. She has started to pull herself up on the couch now:) We are so proud of her. She does get a little tired of being held after about an hour or so but for a child who is blind and in an orphange, she tolerates alot more than we thought she would. We know how Sam is and he has been ours since day one and he gets to stimulated if he is held for too long.

Selah is a BIG girl, no weight problems with her at all! She can walk, has just learned in the past year. Her caregiver from Life 2 Orphans has worked with her and she does walk but not far distances. She is very short but quite round:) She finds it more difficult to relate to us. She wants to so bad but she is having to learn. She has had a more difficult time in life as she was in several placements over her short life time. We love to see how she never wants us to leave which is reassuring. She is so cute and tries to talk to us. she really doens't have much language but she does vocalize.

We see them each morning and then we explore the town. We've gone to the Russian Orthdox Church & gotten blessed for giving a small offering ( got soaked) we gone to the markets, to the local cematary, to a Pentcostal church... we want to expirence this section of the world! I've taken hundreds of pictures so we'll never forget this trip for sure:)

I'm going to try and go back and fil in some stuff and do better writing on here...
We have to go to an interent cafe which makes it a bit harder to really go with my thoughts PLUS the spell check doesn't work on here now....lol that is terrible!!!

Update

I keep having issues with getting on here...

So after the train trip from hell...we took a 1.5 bone jarring ride on a dirt road to the town. We first had to meet with officals, then one went with us to meet our girls......Of course when we got to the instituion we had to do some more offical things...then the walk to them....

I remember thinking, this is the 2nd time in my life to meet a child like this... We walked into an older but clean building, walked up a flight of stairs, opened a door and there they were!!!!! Oh my gosh...I just started bawling. now I have another "first" picture in my mind never to forget, the moment you see your child for the first time...Selah was standing and Sarah was sitting in a little wheelchair....I put one hand on both of them, I didn't know who to grab first:) Tears were flowing...unbelieveable to have come so far, thru so cuch and here they are!!!!!! Just like meeting all my boy, it was a holy moment. for each child of mine, I have that sweet memoray of when I saw their faces for the first time...now I have this for the girls.

Yes Sarah looks like Sam's double, unreal.... Selah is such a funny little girl, so pretty... Sarah soon got tired of being close to her (Sam is like that too) and she slithered out of the wheelchair and rolled on the floor some but then let me hold her. Selah was just overwhelmed with everything but did ok. She loved Jon and started holind his hand. He also held Sarah and sang to her and she enjoyed that very much.

Selah is a chunky very healthy little girl. She is so short, at 7.5 yrs old, Sam is so much bigger than her ( FINALLY children that he is bigger than lol) She has CP, but can walk. She definelty has some different type behaviors and a very short attention span. We've never met a child exactly like her to be honest. But we love her already. It will be interesting to get a diagnosis and see how we can help her the best.

Sarah is so like Sam...she looks like him and has behaviors like him. Of course Sam has had so many advantages that she has not had, so his behaviors are more easy to deal with. She is tiny, but not sick at all. Shad was so sick when I got him, I'm jsut thankful that neither girl is like that! But she will need some medical care as soon as we get home. We found out she has a heart mummer so we will get that seen about soon.

Now we have been here in their town for almost two weeks. We see them as often as we can, not on weekends...or today since ll the paperwork is behing us for now, we have a date set for court and we are looking forward to getting all that done! We expect to be here at least 3 full weeks probaly 4 weeks more...it's just how it rolls here... but it is worth it for them!!!!!!

Hoepfully we will soon get interent in our nice apartment, I'll probably update on here more. Everything has goen well except for my tummy....can't find much of anything to eat, everything just tastes "off' to me... but I will live:) At least I'll lose weight!

Blog is working!!!!!!!!! UPDATE TIME!

So where do I start now that my blog is back again?? Today we have been here for over a week and have met our girls...all is well:) so I'm going to start from last weeek!


We flew out on Friday March 30th....Tampa to Charlotte. Charlotte to Munich, Munich to Kiev Ukraine....all together about a 24 hour trip. with layovers and such. The kids did great. Sam loved flying, he didn't fuss until we'd landed in Kiev. thank God, I didnt' know how that was going to go!! I hate to fly but all was good except for some AWFUL turblance over Irealnd. It woke me up & I reminded God we were off doing His work and He needed to watch over us! And He did:) We flew over Ireland, England, Paris France and into Germany. It was quite amazing to me to watch the map on the screen and the various names of towns as we flew over, so much histroy.

We were taken to the Hospitality House, a ministry that allows a family to stay for free. It was in the old part of the city and very interesting. History was all around us! We were extremely comfortable. Last Sunday we took a taxi to the International Church ( aministy of the Assembly of God) and enjoyed the service.

Monday moring was our DAP appointment, which gave us permission to meet the girls. It went well and we learned a little about Selah. It was almost anti climatic, how easy it was thankfully.

Tuesday we went sightseeing as we waitied on our paperwork. We went to a World War 2 Muesum that celebrated Russia's victoy over Germany. It was moving and made me realize how much the whole world suffered during that terrible time. There were two rooms devoted to the concernations camps. We did not take pictures, it was too sacred & we were all moved totears. There was an actual table used as a gulletin, so awful...Kiev was occupied for several years & many were killed. Near Kiev there was a concentration camp just for children....so very sad.


That night we took an overnight train to Torez, we'd like to call it the Train trip from Hell!!!!! LOL it was rough. we thought Sam would love it, NOT SO!!!! It was a Long HOT night.... I finally went to sleep around 3am local time, but woke up soon as the sun came up. All I could think was that we were just hours from meeting our girls. It was an amazing feeling!!!!!!

Close....

Only a few more days till we leave, trying to finish up all the last minute things but it is hard for me! I'm usually so organized but I'm not so much right now...

We're so close but I'm just petrified that something will happen and we will lose the girls. Since Seth got adopted (knowing their country doesn't' recognize us until after our first appointment) it is hard for me. I guess it's like having a miscarriage, after the first one you know everything doesn't always end up perfect. "Once bitten twice shy" is how I'm feeling. Please pray that everything goes alright & nothing gets in the way of our adopting Sarah and Selah!

Last night I reread Tina Kacireck's blogs about the institution we are going to. They adopted from there in Dec 2010. If you really want to know what we will be facing emotionally, spiritually, then go back and read her blog....I read it last night in tears. My husband was moved just by what I told him of the "other children" the ones we can't take home....All I can say is "God help me" Help me not to get too broke emotionally and help me to bring joy to the other children while we are there. We are bringing Stephen with us, I do not know how he will handle this either. He is so tenderhearted. It will change his life forever no doubt. I believe he will never live just for himself after being there. I hate that mentality of "Us 4 and no more" I see that in some folks lives & it makes me sick...Unfortunately some of the people I see that in are Christians. It's one thing to see that in the world it's another to see in so called Christians... I've never wanted to live my life like that but I see it....wonder how they will respond when they stand before God on that day? I don't say that pridefully, there are times I WISH I could pass by situations and not get involved but I just can not do it. Getting involved is messy, whether it's a stray dog or sick cat or a person who has problems, or an orphan halfway around the world. But as christians I believe we are commanded to get involved in other's situations and do what we can. There is a scripture in Proverbs that say "to do whatever we can to do good to others, inasmuch as it is in your power to do so" I know I mangled that verse to shreds and the Bible Man is not here right now ...LOL

But that is my life verse, God doesn't ask you or me to do what we can not do, just what we can do. But so many people don't even do what they can do!! Let's NOT be like that!!!!!


Tina's blog is kacirek.blogspot.com After reading this, you guys may have to take up a collection for us to buy a bus:)


So I'm sitting here this Sunday morning knowing next Sunday I will be on the other side of the world in a strange place. Please pray for us. I've never asked for prayers any harder except for when Sam was so little and sick. God heard our cries then and I pray He does now I can truly say I'm at the end of myself, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, every way, I'm emptied. I'm a mess.... I do not have the strength for "what lies ahead" I need God's help. This i far more than an adoption, so different than Shad's adoption. Our hearts are going to be opened to needs that we have never seen before. Sure I've been to an orphanage, for about an hour, to get my son and then the rest of the time, I was in a nice hotel, playing with my cleaned up baby. This is not going to be like that. The adoption process is long & tedious especially for two children. There are so many things that have to happen for it all to work. We won't be handed a little boy and be gone from the orphanage in an hour...No we will visit the children daily, twice a day, under the watchful eyes of staff who do not understand WHY we want to adopt SN children. Our girls are not 2 year old, they are 5 & 7 year old who have never known the love of a family...from what we understand they are delayed cognitively. They have suffered extreme malnourishment, at this time they seem on the road to recovery but we know from Shad, that the affects of malnourishment takes a toil. He still has behaviors stemming from that time in his life. There will be needy children and adults there, it is a mental institution for children and adults. Not a mental institution like we think of in the USA, put a place SN children have been placed and have grown into adults there, children/adults who have physical handicaps that have not been able to be addressed because of lack of specialized medical care in their country. Remember just a few years ago, this was a communist country and they are learning to change from that. The country is in recovery but it is a poor country. It's a different world than the one I've been blessed to live in!!!

We've been in difficult situation many times in our lives, we worked in the inner city of NYC & saw some things...but this we know is going to be difficult. I'm afraid of the experience, I will be honest. I'm afraid of where it will take me emotionally. I'm being honest. I have no preconceived ideas of a rosy easy trip with all flowers & sunshine....but I know that God set us on this path.

When I saw Sarah's picture all I knew is that needed a family. Obviously we've adopted internationally before, so I had some idea of what to expect , or so I thought... When I learned she was at a mental institution, and what that meant, and where it was, I remember just grabbing Jon and asking him "WHY did God ask this of us??" Why couldn't we have seen her picture years ago when she was at a baby house? Don't I sound like a whinny brat? Here this child has lived like this for years and I do not want to have to share in her suffering at all, I want to go pick her up and whisk her away...I was THRILLED to be able to leave Shad's orphanage. It was hard, I saw the children in his room and they all grabbed for me. I kidded myself then that they'd all find homes and live happily ever after as I ran out to the taxi with my son. This time there will be no fairy tales, as I see men and women who have been in this place for years, decades, with no hope. I will know what lies ahead for the children we see there... and I'm afraid of how it will change ME! Will it make the purchases at the mall seem even less important, will it make the security in our lives seem hollow? How will I go back to my comfortable life? I don't know...I sit here with tears falling... God help me.

Questions for you

For you guys reading this ...

did you have trouble signing in to read the blog? I'm getting odd emails saying that various differnet emails were signed in on using different names including my email. Since I don't know how this whole thing works with a private blog, I don'tknow if I should be worried or not...just let me know if you had any problems whatsoever
theclanton5@aol.com

Reality

Ahh the reality of adoption...all I can do is compare it to childbirth...when you are to the end or even in labor...and there is no backing out...I experienced it in both of my pregnancies..."What the he__ have we done?" I experienced it when we adopted Shad and am in the middle of it RIGHT NOW!!!!

I feel guilty even admitting to it but it's the reality (for me) I've never been one of those people who wanted a large family. In all actuality, that's what took us so long to have our first child. I can't get pregnant easily and we'd start fertility and then stop it cause we both were a bit unsure about the whole child thingy! If you notice it took us 6 yrs before we had Steve and then almost 9 years before Sam! I was always a bit afraid of children. Now I LOVE my boys and wouldn't trade them for the world BUT with each pregnancy, I experienced a feeling of being trapped! Like oh my gosh WHAT were we thinking!!!!!

Felt the same way when I was leaving to go get Shad. I remember my bro in law driving me to the airport and I was crying and asking him why we were doing this? I know he loves me but he was probably rolling his eyes a bit! (I went by myself so that was stressful)

Well right now, I'm not crying and I am excited but I have a bit of that feeling that I am on the roller coaster, locked in and there is no getting off....AND this time there is not just one child coming but TWO!!! OH MY GOSH!!!! So the reality of the commitment we are making is sinking in.

The fear of the unknown, this long massive trip, halfway across the world, with my family...the month long stay in a country that will not have the same things that we are used to...the INTENSIVE experience of visiting the children 2x a day in a mental institution, seeing and experiencing things I have never experienced...yes I will be honest, I'm afraid. I'm afraid for my heart. I'm afraid I will be crushed by the raw reality. Me, I can't go to an animal shelter, it breaks my heart. HOW am I going to leave other children behind? We currently support a child there who is very medically fragile, I will see her, I've bought things for her but I will leave her...HOW will my heart handle this? I don't know....I do not want to have to do this but this is where our daughters are at.

The first time I saw Sarah's picture I was so troubled I could not sleep..soon we committed to adopting this little one who looks so much like our sweet Sam. Then knowing Seth was in the same institution with a similar diagnosis, we committed to him. As you know another family adopted him. Then we were sent a picture of another little girl who is at the same place who needs a family too and we committed to her.


Committing to Selah has been harder for me. First I didn't want to replace Seth, I am not one to adopt just to adopt. It is a very serious commitment especially for children who will need life long care. She is beautiful but does not have vision issues, we are not exactly sure of her diagnosis only that she was sent to a mental institution rather than a regular orphanage. So that uncertainty was harder for me than for Jon. He just said she looks peaceful, she needs us, let's go for two girls:) I smile when I write this because he has had so much faith in this area, where I've been more concerned. I'm used to a child with vision issues and cognitive delays, I KNOW how to deal with a child like that, unknowns are scary to me.

So since Monday, I've had one heck of an upset stomach. This is one way to lose weight LOL! Got our tickets and all that is good, except for how much I HATE to fly! Pretty much am packed which takes a load off of me. now I just have to get our paperwork in order (got a lot of things that I have to print out and take) need to clean my house and we are ready to go! We even did a will and it was actually fun:) I'm weird, what can I say!!!

So we are about to embark on the biggest adventure (up to this point) in our lives and we have had some adventures for sure!!! I'm nervous, got alot of emotions going on...but as always I'm honest, I'm excited but it's kinda like that roller coaster, you get on cause you want to then you are strapped in for the ride ...well I'm strapped in:) Ready to go, sorta LOLOL scared, hopeful, so many different emotions..

If you have not adopted let me tell you it is the most surreal feeling in the world, when you see that child for the first time. The kid you went around the world for, prayed for, raised the finances for...it's unreal! I literally remember not being able to get my breath and my heart pounding out of my chest...as they handed me my funny little Shad! What a moment...it's like child birth but it is different too...(heck of alot LESS painful!!!)


So I ask selfishly that you pray that my heart/emotions can handle the reality that these children face daily. I feel so selfish asking for that because they live in that situation, and I do not want to see it. But at the same time, I've always wanted my heart tender towards the things that touch God's heart. But I'm afraid of the pain...Pray for our travel,, you do know how much I hate to fly. The trip will basically take, with layovers about 30 hours...WITH Sam!!! God help us all..... Pray that we stay healthy through out the trip, there is little in the way of medical care, pray especially for Sam...when I even start thinking of various things that could happen, I feel faint! We are going to be especially careful with his eyes so he doesn't get any type of infection. Pray that the girls will accept us. they have never known a family and not every child is like Shad was. He acted like he was ready to go and what took me so long to get there? He was unique, not every child acts like that or accepts the new family so readily. Pray that they stay healthy as we travel home with them. pray that no one steals our things during the trip. Some families experienced thefts from airport workers. Pray that the USA doesn't get into a war with Iran while we are there only a few hours flight from Iran!!! (we are specifically flying a non American airline for safety reasons) I feel very needy right now!!!

Thank you all for standing with us these past few months, we are in awe of God's provision and take that as a further sign that we are on the right path. Thank you for your prayers, we REALLY appreciate them!!!!!

DATE!!!

If you haven't heard...we have our date!!! April 2nd and will see the girls April 5th!!! Thank you Lord!!!!!! Easter in Ukraine!!!!! got a million things to do!! So excited!!!!

Sarah Joy

I wanted to share an updated picture of Sarah. Can't wait to get the call saying we hve an appointment. Please pray that we will get it soon!

Introducing Selah Johannah

Isn't she beautiful?




So we've been advised to put our blog on private until we get home. At this point I would probably dance down the street naked if someone advised me to do it LOL if that was what it took to get them home LOL~ So if you are reading this, you are really my friend:) Since we are private, I felt I could share her picture.

We already love her and can picture her and Sarah playing happily in their room together. She has some delays and CP although she can walk. She may have some vision problems but it is probably not as bad as we thought at first. Sam's speech teacher is so excited to start to work with them. She is brain storming already the best way to start them. As soon as we get home and recover, we want to get them in all the therapies possible. And of course we will take Sarah in June/July for her eye surgery. It will also be time for Sam's yearly check up. Our doctor is very hopeful about Sarah's eye as it does not seem to have an overly thick or protruding cornea,from the pictures we have, which makes for an easier surgery. When Sam had the surgery, he went from barely mobile to walking all over the place and developmentally he progressed in huge ways in the months following the surgery. He will also examine Selah to see if she has any vision issues. Dr Aquavella is one of a kind, the best doctor you could imagine. He loves to give children sight! He is 79 years old and has been working on kids with Peter's Anomaly since the 1960's! He is now semi-retired but takes Peter's cases. He takes the hardest cases, the ones that other doctors have given up hope on and he gives these kids some sight! He is amazing! We totally trust his experience and you'd never know his age! He moves like a much younger man!

We have so many plans and hopes for these girls. PLEASE pray that we will get our appointment date on Monday and it will be soon! Pray that we will find favor and a quick (as possible trip) and pray that the girls' hearts will be opened to us. It was so easy with Shad, with him it's like he totally understood I was there to get him:) He was like "What took you so long?" He came right to me and was attached every since:) But some kids are more hesitant than that. I didn't know then that his behavior was a bit odd! He wouldn't even let go of me to take pictures with the orphanage staff. That was so sweet! I loved it but I know that doesn't always happen and these girls are older

Although it is hard on us to be gone for so long, in some ways it is good. We will visit the girls daily and that will give them time to get used to us. With them being older, it will be good for them to gradually get to know us. We do not want to upset them. I can't imagine how it was for Shad for some different looking tall blond lady to get him, put him in a taxi and leave the only place he'd ever known but bless his heart, he fell asleep on my lap and was happy when he woke up:) What a little adventurer he was (and still is) We would really be blessed if these girls reacted like that!!!!

So keep us in prayer that Monday is THE day!!

Thank you!

At the Doctor's

My husband is getting his 3rd epidural today for his back. He has 3 herniated discs and has been having these treatments and thankfully they are working. He is back to light exercising and walking. He hopes with this treatment that he can get back to jogging. He has no idea whythis problem started but he has had problems since this past summer. We are happy that he is much better and ready to go on our trip to get the girls!

We are excited about being the parents of two girls. This is going to be so different for us, we are used to boys and boy toys:) I bought them a Sunshine Family Dollhouse yesterday and had fun setting it up, the boys were laughing at me:) They said I had way too much fun setting it up! I can't help myself I've been buying them matching clothes and shoes! LOL they are going to be so cute. I can't wait to get these girls home! I hope we get the call on Monday!!!!!!!! Please pray!!!!! The only good thing is that the weather will be warmer there! We are from Florida and are already having temps in the 90's so we hope it won't be in the 20's there lOL~ We are more used to flip-flops than boots!!!!!

So we hope to hear that call on Monday morning:) I'll be posting as soon as I hear!!!!

Tuffy needs a home

Still waiting on a travel invitation and appointment....hopefully we will hear on Monday....

In other news, WAIT! That is our other news! WE feel like our lives are on hold until we know when we are leaving! Please pray that we will get our date on Monday and that it will be soon:)

Their room is completely done & so cute. I would take a picture but Mr Sam broke our camera! I bought a new one but don't understand it, it seems too complicated for us (even my 16 yr old didn't like it) so I have to take it back and get another one. But I will put some pictures up soon.

We are having beautiful weather!!!! I LOVE Florida in the spring, spring? It was 95 degrees yesterday! It's great!

A new dog came up, we named him Tuffy. I took him to the vet to get checked out and they think he was used as bait for fighting dogs! His face/neck is covered with cuts and he is on 3 antibiotics for the rips in his mouth. The swelling has gone down thank God. But he has the SWEETEST disposition! He doesn't even growl when I clean his face/mouth. We are looking for a home for this lover boy. HE is about 1 1/2 loves kids, is scared of cats and is great with our dogs. I love this tough little mutt and how sweet he is despite the hard life he has had.

Even if you could just foster him while we are gone to pick up the girls, that would be a blessing! He would need to be in a very good fenced in yard or I'm afraid he might try and come back here and he'd need lots of love. He wants to come inside but we haven't let him. He maybe housebroken, he doesn't lift his legs on much- he's not a peeing dog like our lab who pees every second it seems! He is the dearest little boy! He now has all his shots and he is getting fixed tomorrow.
Please contact me if you are interested!!!!

No date yet...

Please pray that we will be issued an appointment date tomorrow! The country just started issuing dates for this year since their holiday close down. Three families of our group got appointments today and they are hoping the other families will get ones tomorrow. Please pray we do. Although this adoption has been very quick in some ways, it's been brutal on our emotions. We really want to get started on this part of the process, we've had our paperwork done since January & now it's been a full two months of waiting....hard on us but even harder on the children. They need their family.

So please pray for this for us! Thank you!!!!!

Peter's Anomaly- an explaination

I see I got lots of hits on my post about Peter's Anomaly so I wanted to add some more info.

As you know my son has Peter's. Peter's Anomaly is a condition that children are born with. Basically their corneas (the covering of the eye, the windshield of the eye) is cloudy. There are various degrees of cloudiness. Sam was born with very cloudy corneas but they were not real thick.

It is genetic chromosomal in many cases. In some cases, it seems to be just a random thing. Currently the University of Wisconsin is doing FREE research into PA. please contact me if you'd like the info.

Our son has been in the research study for about a year and they have yet to find the marker for PA in his DNA. Because he totally presents with PA as well as Peter's Plus Syndrome, all are convinced that there is a marker in him that maybe different than with other people.

Some kids are born with both eyes affected like Sam and then it is call bi-lateral PA. Some are born with just one eye affected and it's called uni-lateral PA.

Many times the child with present with one or both eyes smaller than normal. This is called Microphthalmia. Both of Sam's eyes are smaller than normal with his left eye being much smaller than normal.

Anophthalmia is when one or both eyes did not develop. We've met some children who have had that condition.

Another part of Peter's is the frequency that the child develops glaucoma. Sam's has been kept in check by eye drops but it something that can happen to a child even if the child is never treated (for example with a transplant or implant)

Treatments...

Some families do nothing....I will not even get into my ideas on that!!!

Our plan was to treat aggressively and we did from day one.

When Sam was just 8 weeks old (only 2 weeks after his real due date) he had his right cornea transplanted. Then a few months later, he had his left eye done. The left eye began rejection within 6 weeks and we fought it for months with extra eye drops & frequent trips to Miami for him to be put under and received steroid shots directly into the eye itself. Nothing worked and we just left it alone for awhile.

By the time he was three his right eye had totally rejected, turning just as cloudy as it was when he was born.

Then our doctors told us about corneal IMPLANTS! Made from thin plastic, the implant is not rejected! So we took Sam to Dr Aquevella in Rochester NY for the procedure in August 2007 and now going on FIVE years, his eye is clear & he ia doing great.

He will never have 20/20 sight but his sight is functional and he plays, watched tv, walks without much assitance, runs in places he is familiar with. The implant was the best thing we ever did!!!!!!!

So if you are reading this and you have a child with PA, feel free to contact me. We did both procedures and I can promise you the implant is so much better than the transplants. I'm so thankful for the technology and of Dr A's skill ( and he is the most kindest man in the world!!)

I know I've made this so simple without a lot of detail but I see my one other post about PA gets so many hits, I felt I needed to explain a bit more.

BTW, we feel that Sarah the little girl we are adopting has PA and Dr A will be seeing her this summer and he is hopeful to be able to help her. We also felt that Seth has PA and Dr A was willing to try to help him also. His case looks more complicated but we have friends who adopted a little girl from China whose eyes looked just like Seth's and Dr A was able to operate and give her some sight!!! We've passed on all of Dr A's info to this family and hope that he will get seen by Dr A!

Again the picture above is Before and after Sam's implant surgery...WOW what a difference for him!!

Bittersweet news

Another family adopted Seth. We had known about it for weeks but waited to see what would happen before we posted about it. In our children's country , a child is not held for a family, as families sometimes back out at the last moment and then the child has wasted months being held and has less of a chance for adoption. This is hard for adoptive parents but it really is in the child's best interest. So until you are in country after your appointment, is really the only time you can truly know that child is saved for you.

So while it was very sad for us, our family cried together because we love him and had imagined how it would be to have him in our family. But we rest in the assurance that god is in control of this situation. We pray for him and his family the very best.

Medically he is very fragile and perhaps he needed a family to be there quicker than we could come (still waiting on our travel date any day now) They have been there for some weeks giving him attention and love.

In the big scheme of things, isn't it wonderful that he has two families that loved him enough to do a paper chase and go halfway around the world to get him! God NEVER forgot Seth and has provided for him!!!!!!


So what about us? We are expecting our travel date any day and we can't wait to go and get Sarah! We were given some info on another little girl....TWO girls???? What a change for us! We are seriously considering this second girl who we will name Selah Johannah if she becomes our daughter

God has given us a peace about the whole situation. He is the One who led us to adopt and we are just walking in the path He has for us! We were heartbroken at first. the day I found out, I cried so much that my eyes were swollen the next day but in my heart I had such a peace. Believe me that did not come from me! But we've had some time to adjust to the whole thing

So please keep us in prayer that God will order our steps and pray for Seth that God is with them in their travels and gives him the most wonderful happy life! He deserves much happiness and love and we just pray he gets a ton of it:)

Also pray that we will know if we are to add this second girl to our family and that the path is clear. Pray for their health and their hearts that they are prepared for us. thank you all!

Update on waiting...

Still waiting....got a message that the country won't issue invites till March 1st next Thursday, hopefully we will plan on traveling March 12th or so if we get an appointment for March 15th which is the first day appointments will be given out for. Please keep praying for us that we will go as soon as possible! I've never had to wait on a chld before...my biological kids were both premature and our son from China came a month earlier than expected so this is new for me...LOL but not easy because the stakes are so high!!!!!

I actually found BOOTS for the children (including Sam) in Florida and they were on clearance. Sam is not a shoe wearer so it was FUNNY to watch him high stepping trying to get them off. He was not amused...we were! He HATES shoes/socks & hats! The only good thing with the wait is it won't be as cold. A few days ago we checked on their town, 19 degrees and snowing....YIKES! We are Florida people and not too used to that! We are more shorts and flip flops!

So the room is finished, the kids' bag is packed...house and yard are done...just waiting....Say a prayer that the wait won't be long and that all is well!!!!

Still waiting....

We are still waiting on "the call" to come. Every time the phone rings, I jump up to check it! Our yard & house are done, their room is done...we are ready to leave to go get them!

PLEASE continue to pray for favor in all areas, all details to work out, safe travels for us ( I hate to fly!) Pray that the children are healthy & safe. I think we will be working with a great facilitator and I feel that we will have an easy time with the paperwork and the people we deal with at the institution. I'm not a real positive person so I think the peace I feel has to be from the Lord:) We realize it is not going to ba a short process or without stress BUT we just want to get started!

We know that we are following God's leading, things might not work out exactly as we had thought they would BUT God is in control of our lives and this adoption. He gave us the marching orders and we are just following Him...

Pray for us and the children....

thank you!

Comments...

I've looked back over the comments section and realized I've missed quite a few...I just want to thank you all for ALL the uplifting messages. They touched my heart tonight...I went back to the very beginning of this journey and read all the kind words of encouragement. thank you again!

Can I ask all of you to pray...pray for our adoption, pray for FAVOR from the hand of the Lord, pray that nothing stands in our way and that God's will is done.

We are close but there are many more steps to complete. You have no idea how much we appreciate your prayers! One day I may share more of this journey....it's been quite an experience:)

Thank you again for your prayers and know that they are needed and appreciated!

8 yr old miracle:)

Today is Sam's 8 year old birthday! My mind goes back to the day he was born, after a short eventful pregnancy. Our doctor felt he needed to be delivered although he wasn't quite 32 weeks because the amniotic fluid was low & he was at risk of lying on his cord & killing himself. Since he was breech, they scheduled me for a c-section and gave me a few steroid shots to help his lung develop. So I laid there and watched him be born (don't' worry the only thing I was looking at was his cute butt popping out!) Let me tell you a planned c-section is the way to go! so easy, I was up in no time and not really too uncomfortable. Much easier than my "natural birth" with our first son!


Of course most of you have read the story about how I noticed his eyes the next morning & had to fight to get medical attention for them although he was in the NICU! (and no I wasn't very nice but unfortunately right!) I knew he was blind the first time I looked into his eyes....

We were devastated! Who thinks about having a blind child???? That wasn't on my list of worries at all!!! The emotions we felt were overwhelming....

But through it all, somehow the peace of God sustained us, I can't explain it but when I look back on those days, it's not with a sense of sorrow, it's with a feeling of comfort... I determined while he was in the hospital I was NOT going to get bitter about the hand that life dealt us and I was going to trust God!

We adored him so much, were at the hospital all day every day & were so glad to bring him home although he came home with machines! We began the (now over 40 surgeries & procedures) that have given him a measure of sight in one eye. And we just loved him. Honestly because he was blind, it just made him that much more precious to us.

So now EIGHT years later, we have this wonderful precious little boy (and yes he is little- the size of a 2 1/2 yr old but chunky) that we still adore. He has taken us on some real adventures physically, spiritually & emotionally. We've met people that we would have never met , if we didn't have Sam! We've experienced many things & plenty of trips (NY doctor trips/vacations) that we would have never experienced if we didn't' have Sam. Spiritually having him, has taken us to a place of surrender that we've probably would never have gone on our own... I'm amazed by families who adopt children with special needs who do not have their own special (SN) child! I personally would have never had the guts otherwise...but having Sam takes the fear out and shows us the joy that is there in a life that may not be "perfect' in the eyes of the world but is in God's eyes and our eyes' too!

So just by his life, it encouraged us to adopt Shad! And now we are adopting two more children with similar special needs as Sam. We read their diagnosis and it reads as Sam's would probably if he were in their situation. It's rather bleak, they are blind with cognitive delays....but so is Sam and he is the light of my life:) We feel privileged that God would allow us to have a son like Sam. I know that may seem hard for some people to understand, I probably wouldn't have understood it 10 years ago...but it is so true! Having Sam has shown us what is truly important in life and what's not... Isn't' that a wonderful thing? So what is important PEOPLE! Not things or degrees or titles but people! Guess what? A person is important even if they don't have a 150 IQ score...Sam's score is extremely low and he has had every advantage a child with disabilities could have & it's not really helped much but that so does NOT matter!!! He matters, his heart, his love...I wish I could fully share my heart but it is so hard to put it in words. I just love my baby and love having him in my life:) There are days when the thought just washes over me, how blessed I truly am....

We are submitted!

Our dossier has been officially submitted & accepted by our children's country. That means they accepted all 40 plus documents and will now go over them to make sure everything is completely correct. Then hopefully in about 2 weeks we will get a call to tell us of our appointment date with their Department of Adoption!

Today marks 12 weeks since we started the official paper chase and only 13 weeks since we looked at their pictures...During that time, God has provided their "ransom" He provided fully for their adoption. (I read that on another person's post & I thought how appropriate for me to write that also.)

We have never seen miracles of provision like we have in these past 12 weeks...from the day we committed and needed $2004 for the first fees we needed to pay (which came in, in just hours of asking for it) to a new van to drive them in....it's been unreal to us! God LOVES orphans! Don't ever let the fear of money keep you from stepping out in faith to adopt a child. God provides! If you would have told me 14 weeks ago, we'd be at his point today, I probably would have not believed it BUT 'look what the Lord has done" And it's been God not us or our wonderful personalities trying to make something happen:) God has touched hearts, some we have never met and some who love us dearly...but you know what is interesting? He didn't touch any rich person to give...no He touched hearts that for the most part, had to take a step in faith to give...it makes the gift even more precious! I even had a great, funny friend who won a bit in the lottery and gave it all to the adoption! Another dear friend sold all her "junk" gold to give...it's been unreal and humbling to watch God do this!

Tonight I can't help but reflect on how we have changed as a family and grown in just the last 12 weeks...I can't imagine what is ahead for us, as we travel to get our children and then have the joy of raising them in a family! And hopefully even getting them the medical help they need to receive some sight!

I thank God for all He has done and stand amazed at His faithfulness!!! And I thank you all, some have given, some have prayed..all have encouraged us on this journey...

Please continue to pray! Pray that Sarah and Seth stay healthy and that God whispers in their ears every night that their family is coming so their hearts are prepared to accept us. Pray that they stay safe. Pray that our dossier will pass inspection and we will receive a quick travel date. Our desire is to leave no later than March 5th and return by April 8th (Easter) I KNOW that is asking for a miracle but....we have seen so many lately....!!!Pray for our trip for our safety and for FAVOR with all the officials we deal with.

Tonight I can't wrap my mind around what is ahead....even reading different people's accounts, they are all so very unique. Although we have adopted before, this is alot different. I have alot to do in the next few weeks, pray that I'll have clarity in all areas. There are so many details to attend to and it all has to be done!

Thank you all again!

Help another family out!!!!

Can I ask YOU my followers and read to do me a huge favor?? This friend of mine is also adopting from our children's country. Could I ask everyone to go to their page featured below and give at least $10? If all my regulars would do that we'd raise almost $800 for them this week!!! They need about $800 to take the next step! Let's help them friends!!! Could you donate where it says "Personal Adoption Fund Raiser"? This is an account they can access now for expenses!



http://specialingredientlove.blogspot.com/

Thank you!

Please pray...

Three posts in one day... WOW!

Within the next 36 hours our dossier should be submitted to our children's country. So much is riding on this. Please pray that we will be given to a worker whose heart is touched and who wants to help children get homes. Pray that we do not encounter any snags, it happens often it seems in this country. Our children have been waiting for a very long time for a family, please pray that we will find FAVOR with everyone who touches our file.

Emotionally I feel wrung out right now, we've pushed so hard and fast to get our paperwork done, the money raised and everything ready for them....now there is nothing we can do but wait! Please pray that once again the God of this Universe will have mercy on Sarah & Seth and fly us thru this process. He has been so faithful, I feel like one of the children of Israel right now... they saw God move and perform miracles then they doubted once again.....I don't doubt God I just don't have alot of trust in government workers (remember I was one for many years LOL- i was a good worker but I saw some doozies!!!)

So alot is hitting me tonight and I feel very down, overwhelmed and worried about this situation. There is so much ahead on this journey and I know it will not be an easy journey....I pray for strength and wisdom for us......I hate to fly, I hate to be away from home and I really hate to be on the other side of the world from one of my kids! The trip is long and not glamorous in anyway BUT it is the only way we can get our children.

Thank you for your prayers for all of us...soon to be the Clanton Seven!

Baby Shower

My friends, family & church gave us a wonderful baby shower last weekend! We were again blessed beyond what we could have imagined by the generosity & love shown to our little ones! I wanted to download some photos but couldn't do it:( We just had a wonderful time together and we got so much stuff for the kids! I actually had to put everything in my husband's office at the church because our house is torn up with all the painting and construction going on! Hopefully most of it will be done tomorrow and I'll be able to start putting things back together. A good friend painted their room and is redoing our closets giving us more storage space so everything is pulled out all over the place!

I went and bought the cribs yesterday (they are also in the church as there is no room for them at home!) We're putting them in cribs for their safety and for their feeling of security.Having a child with who is legally blind, I know that a crib makes him feel more secure (and it sure makes me feel more secure too!!!) They have beautiful matching jungle themed crib sets that were handmade and soft blankets with the matching theme. I can't wait till they are home sleeping safely in their jungle themed bedroom!

I've bought them some toys that will be attached to the walls of their room and a ball pit. We already have an inside trampoline with a net, that Sam loves. I'm so excited about their room, it will be a sensory room! Lots of things to touch and listen to as well as do. Our local Blind Services has a room like that for the little kids and I am trying to some degree to copy it. Some days I just dream about how it will be to have them home and enjoying everything! I hope to have everything done by this weekend and pictures up-hopefully!!!!!

Everything is getting into place, hopefully that is a good sign that we are close to leaving to go get them!!! Please remember to pray for them and us! Thanks!

NEW VAN

Last Monday night we had just gone to bed when we got a phone call from a church member...as a pastor, you think the worst, someone is sick or has died....well our member said everything was fine and then just kinda waited...then he dropped the bomb...his family was buying us a new van!!!!!! We almost passed out:) We met him Tuesday night and picked up a brand new Kia van:) It's lovely:) You can see it above. I like the picture where it is with our old 2000 Dodge Caravan, big difference there! We are so grateful to our dear friends and overwhelmed by the provision of the Lord to us. Never did we expect this and are just amazed by how God is providing for us and for Sarah and Seth! They will be riding in style:) And I love that the windows are tinted, we plan on getting them eye surgery this summer and that will make it easier on their eyes while they are recovering. God is in the details and it is amazing!!!!!!!! I'm blown away.....

We are scheduled for our dossier to be submitted on Thursday so please pray for us that it will all go smoothly and we have our travel date within 2 weeks. It seems we are so close but still so far away!

As always plese pray for Sarah and Seth that God will protect them and keep them healthy!!!!!!!! Thank you all for your prayers!

Faithful God

Today we received a check for $7000 to complete our adoption! We are in awe of what God has done for Sarah & Seth! I am in awe of God's faithfulness. I truly believe God hears the cry of the orphan, the cry of loneliness that comes from their heart & He responds to it. Having a front row seat to this miracle for the last few months has been amazing. We didn't do any fundraisers (not that I'm against that) we couldn't even figure how to put the link to the ministry that has an account for them/us on my blog:) BUT God moved on people's hearts & they responded to his nudges...

The lady who gave today just unexpectedly lost her husband. But years ago she had a dream about helping two orphans & when she heard what we were doing, she felt the Lord nudge her to help us as the fulfillment of the dream. She hasn't let bitterness over her loss take over her life, she is trusting God no matter what she is going through. What an amazing example for all of us to trust God and not let circumstances steal our joy & trust in God. I am humbled by her example!

Thank you all for your prayers and support as we have began this journey. Please continue to pray for Sarah & Seth's health & safety and that all the very complicated pieces fall into place in the next month. Pray that despite all human reasoning that things will continue to go fast and that they will soon be in our arms. There are so many components of the adoption ahead & so many people within their government that we need favor from God as we move forward. Please pray for us that we will soon have them home:) Thank you all!!!!!!!!

Thanks!

I just got a shower gift from a family in Arizona:) How sweet of you guys! Can't wait to see them using it to hold on to as they relearn how to walk again:) What an encouragment!

Keeping the Faith

Today I woke to an email stating that there has been some changes to the way our children's country accepts dossiers. Right now our initial paperwork has been filed and the team was waiting to file our dossier till February 1, when the country reopened to accept dossiers. Now it seems each family will be given a date that our dossier can be submitted on. We do not know if this will affect us or not as our initial paperwork (it's called the CSP) has been submitted almost a month. We are waiting to hear. Even if it does affect us, it shouldn't add more than a few weeks on to the wait....not hard for us because we have been flying and have alot to do to get ready to bring two children home BUT to the children, this would be an awful hold up. They need us and they need medical care. Please pray that this will not hold up the adoption in any way!!! Thank you!!!!

Since we started on this adoption in November, I've been totally focused on getting our paperwork done and getting all the money raised. We didn't research this country, we fell in love with two children. So as I'm reading in our FB group of all the things different families are facing and how long some are in country, it's overwhelming! At this point, we plan on taking Steve & Sam with us. We have no one to leave Sam with for so long and Steve is coming to help with Sam. (he's a great big brother) We can't take Sam with us to court or to the institution so Steve will keep him in our room/apartment. I'm so thankful for a dependable, mature. 16 yr old son! However we do have concerns about taking Sam out of the country. He is so much healthier than ever but he does have special needs and there are things that could go wrong...even getting food poisoning would be disastrous for him. But we have no one who could keep him for 4-6 weeks. Yes that is how long we will be in country....

I like to plan things...with this it is "just go with the flow" 100% there is very little that we have any control over. I've said a million times I'm sure that this is a total different experience than our Chinese adoption...that was smooth, step by step...totally knew what to expect in country, even knew where we were staying...not so here!!!! The group of parents that are there right now are having extremely different experiences...and I wouldn't say any one's experience was smooth at all! Some seem easier than others...but they all seem very hard & stressful!

This one thing I know is that GOD has lead us to this point. We were not a family that was looking to add anymore children! If you would have asked me last October if we were ever going to adopt again, I would have told you "NO" And had we been thinking of adoption I can assure you it would not have been this country from just the little I knew about the adoption process. We didn't research countries or try to figure which ways to go... God spoke to us and that brings me comfort when the way seems dark....I can see in my mind's eye, us walking down a dark path, a tunnel of trees in the dark, with just a little light with us. We don't know how long that path will be or what steps to take we just walk in the moment and in His light.....

I have to confess there are times when I wake up in the middle of the night and WORRY....and believe me there are SO many things to worry about!!! But all I can say is we are following God's leading & direction. When I can grasp that truth for a minute or so...I have peace... It's just hard to keep ahold of that truth!!

Currently my husband is having a rough time with 3 bulging discs in his back. He has had problems since July but it got 100% worse when we committed to adopt Sarah & Seth. He has had a treatment of an epidural into his back and it has helped some. He is getting another one next Friday and they hope that that will be the cure. If not it is going to be a very hard trip

When I think of all that could go wrong....it's overwhelming! Please continue to pray for us in this situaion! Pray that God will make the crooked path straight...thank you!

If you'd like to give

If you'd like to give there are two ways ....

http://reecesrainbow.org/28647/sponsorclanton


or you can mail a check to: Grace Church 7060 Berry Road, Zephyrhills Fl 33540 attn: Clanton adoption

Thanks!

Getting Ready

We are still waiting, our dossier is being translated and all kinds of details are coming together! We are hoping to be in the children's country by March 5th:) Everything is going wonderfully...had a small glitch in our immigration paperwork that was noticed as it was being translated but were able to get that fixed immediately and emailed over! We still need about $5000 to finish the adoption fees but I'm confident that God is well able to provide that!!!!!

The paint and wood is bought for their room. It's going to be a jungle theme and look amazing. We have a wonderful friend , Chuck, who did a great job on our church so now he has offered to paint their room and redo the closets in the house to give us all more closet space. My house is kinda a mess right now as I am going through everything but it is going to be great!!

Next week my friend are giving me a baby shower...we're registered at Toys RUs /Babies R Us if you are wondering:) I can't wait to get everything ready for them!!!!

I've just started buying some clothes. I love thrift stores and went to my favorite one over the weekend and found someone had just dropped off beautiful size 4 girls' clothes. The clothes don't look worn at all and are all name brands! I also bought her some leggings to go under some of the dresses. I got Seth a few things including a very nice Nike Gator jacket! I've got a lot of boy clothes...obviously but I want him to have some new stuff too. It's hard to decide what to buy since I don't really know their sizes. Everything I bought for Shad was way too big so I'm figuring the same with them.

We just want everything to be nice and ready for them. We can't wait to spoil them and hear giggles....

All my kids have been premature, Steve by a month, Sam by two months, Shad by a month....so it's our hope that they will be too:) We have been told that the earliest we could hope to go was the first of March...I'm hoping we'll have a ate by the end of February...what can I say, I've never had to wait for my kids to get here:) Even Shad was a month earlier than we'd expected and that was crazy times for sure:) I had 5 days to get my visa and leave for China.....whew!

Really want these precious children home, really want to start loving on them, can't wait to take them to get eye surgery and hopefully that will give them some vision....

Please pray that things will continue to go smoothly, that God will continue to show us His mercy. Please pray that they will stay healthy and that God will whisper peace into their hearts throughout their dreams...thank you so much!

We keep marching forward....

During these hard economic times, the state of Florida is closing TWELVE prisons!! Thank God my husband's prison was not affected. WE are so very thankful that he still has his job & we pray for our friends who have been affected! When he told me the news, I could have passed out. At one point, his prison was high on the list for closure but since they have a mental health ward as well as a hospice ward, they were needed so it remains open! WE are so thankful...

Well we are now officially done with our paperwork, just waiting....waiting on confirmation of the children's eligibility for adoption, waiting on February 1st, the first day we can be logged in the country, then waiting on a date to go..... We had one new piece of paperwork that had to be sent in, but it's done and won't hold us up any. It will be there before Feb 1:)

Some friends are giving me a baby shower, I'm excited:) I'm registered at Babies R Us/Toys R US, and have an idea of what the kids will need. Our friend is redoing their room and that should be done soon. I'm nesting...have gone through the kids' rooms and clean out alot of stuff. I LOVE to clean closets. I do it every few months and yet he stuff keeps growing in there:)

WE still need about $5000 to complete the adoption but have full faith it will all come in in the next few weeks. God has been so faithful to our children and to us!

Plans in country with our facilitator is underway and all seems to be moving smoothly. I ask for prayers that everything will fall into place in each area so that things will go as smooth as possible.

Please continue to pray for Sarah's & Seth's health that God will strenghten them & give them hope in their heart that their mommy & daddy are coming for them!

THANK YOU!

I just want to take a moment and thank each person who has given towards our adoption. We plan on sending a picture card to each person after we get home wih them. If you've given through Reece's Rainbow, we do not get a list of the givers until right before we travel. But we want you to know how much we appreciate you!!!!!

I love that we keep getting donations from the Rochester NY area! Don't know exactly how you all know us but we LOVE that area!!!!!!!! Our son Sam received a life changing, sight saving surgery there at Strong's in August 2007 by Dr James Aquvella. We go yearly for check ups & have such pleasant experiences there. We have such a love & respect for the wonderful Ronald McDonald House there by the hospital. the staff is wonderful and always act happy to see us all the way from Florida! Dr A is the most wonderful doctor and man! His life work has been saving sight! He has perfected the corneal eye implants that gave Sam sight. Our plans are to take Seth and Sarah to him by June (and it will be time for Sam's check up too) He believes he can help them! If ANYONE can, Dr A can do it! We LOVE him. I've included Sam's picture above so you can see the difference!!!! That's the difference we hope to see for Sarah & Seth soon!!!!!!!!

So hopefully we will be able to meet some of our doors in person one day!

Our family is so blessed by the outpouring of love by so many. We know that people are praying for us and for Sarah & Seth! Thank you so very much!

Homeland Security Approval

In less than 2 weeks, despite Christmas & New Years, we got our USCIS/Homeland Security approval! Just so you know, that is crazy fast!

Now our first round of paperwork is submitted in our children's country. This is when we get the official word that they are adoptable. WE know they've been listed but this is like a 2nd check to make sure they've not been adopted or moved or deceased. Although I've heard good things recently, this is a scary time for us. I think the rest of the adoption will be a scary time for us. Our work is done, the paperwork is in...now it is up to the children's country to say YES,come and adopt!

Please pray that all goes smoothly from this point on. We have no control whatsoever at this point, we're just trusting God for the outcome. This first batch went in, but no full dossiers are accepted until Feb 1. We are looking for ours to be submitted on that day. Then we get an appointment with their Department of Adoptions. Depending on when that appointment is, is when we leave for their country.

PLEASE pray for us & for the two children we already love so much. We want to bring them home and give them a whole new life!

Carnation Instant Breakfasts Drive

We've been asked by several people how they could help the children in the institution. One way we have thought of is through supplying Carnation Instant Breakfasts. A wonderful ministry works there called Life 2 Orphans and they supply the children with the mixes. So if you'd like to send monies earmarked for the Carnation Instant Breakfast Drive, I will buy the packets and we will take a duffel bag full:)

If you live in the area and would like to do a drive, through your works, school or church, that would be great too.

Make sure if you are mailing a donation for the Carnation Instant Breakfast Drive that you write that on your check or money order. Make our your checks to Grace Church 7060 Berry Road, Zephyrhills Fl 33540.

It will be tax deductible also!

Another $1030 came in today, we need just a little over $6000:) We are blessed!!!!!!!

The Faithfulness of God -We got another miracle

When we started out on this journey less than 2 months ago, we had no extra money. We live on one salary with 3 kids. I coupon, do a veggie garden, thrift shop, love hand me downs....do all I can to stretch each dollar. We didn't have the $30,000...to be honest we didn't have the initial $3000...I was asked by the ministry that we are working through "IF we would have the required up-front fees as needed." I said "yes". When I said Yes, we had exactly $82 in our checking account & payday was a few days away. And even when payday came, there wasn't an extra $300 to spare, much less $3000! So did I lie? NO! Because I knew we would have the required fees to send it. Don't ask me how I knew it , I just did.

There are a few times I can look back on in my life and just KNOW I heard from God! When I was a young person, God spoke to my heart, beside our mailbox that I was to go to Southeastern College. I had gotten a flyer for it & as I was pulling it out of he mailbox, in my heart, head, spirit...where ever, I clearly "heard" this is the school you will go to" So against many odds, I did go and did graduate from there!

So in the same way, we felt God spoke to our hearts about these children. So when I said "yes", I was speaking in complete confidence. I've learned to trust God & I've learned God's nature. Read the Bible, it's filled with references about taking care of the orphans. Was I a bit overwhelmed? YES But I just "had a knowing"

So within the first week, everything came in that we needed for that time frame. Every single step of this journey, the need has been supplied. It's been amazing!

Then a few days ago I realized I had miscalculated & that we needed more than I thought at first because I had left out the children's tickets home & I'd written 2 deposits twice & I hadn't budgeted but for 4 weeks there, and really we need to be prepared for 6 weeks....so I was overwhelmed. But I prayed that God would not let me be like the children of Israel who had seen so many miracles but when times would get rough, they'd doubt God every time. I really prayed through about that & told God that I chose to trust Him, no matter what!

So yesterday.....

I checked our Reece's Rainbow account when I first got up and was encouraged that there was $30 that came in, then 221.50 later in the morning, then around lunch $2000 was posted!!!!! We were rejoicing as a family! Then another $100 came in and we were just blown away....A few hours later, I got a call from a sweet lady that I know and we talked for a bit and she told me that her family was mailing in a donation. I was blessed & thankful...THEN she told me the check was for $7500 & I literally could not catch my breath! When I finally could breath I was bawling, just torn up because of their willingness to be a part of this journey. Then I managed to tell my husband who was on the phone to someone else and he had to get off the phone & he laid down on our bed & wept! We were blown away.....Thank you my friends for giving so these two sweet little people can come home with us! We promise to make their life sweet & so different from what it is now.

Since then another $225 have come in and we are down to needing $7211 to have all the funds that our agency suggests we have to insure that all in country fees are paid.

God is faithful to the orphan! I don't believe He moved like this cause we have such great faith ( LOLOL) but because He hears the cries of the orphan. When Sarah's & Seth's parents left them in the hospital after their birth & forgot about them...God never forgot them. The God of this Universe heard their cry. I have a picture of both of them sucking their fingers, to comfort themselves at rest time. They have never known the love of a family. Obviously they've been taken care of, basic needs met but even if they couldn't' describe it, in their hearts they yearned for a family. God heard their yearning.

Why these two? Doesn't God care for ALL orphans? YES, yes He does! I don't have perfect theology but I believe if Christians began adopting orphans that the problem would be solved. I've read that if only 10% of professing Christians would step forward and adopt both within their own country & internationally, all orphans would have homes. But God is waiting on someone to step forward to take the children. Jon & I were willing, not that we're saints, but our hearts were moved with compassion. Not everyone can adopt but many can who think they can't! If ONLY the people who have said to me "i wish I could adopt" would get up and do it instead of wish about it, many children would have homes!!! If you are in a place in your life that you can not adopt, then give to someone who is or to a feeding program or something. God doesn't say everyone has to adopt but He does tell us to take care of the orphans & the fatherless. God has used so many different people who could not adopt at this time in their lives to bless us to enable us to adopt. It's all a part of God's plan.

God is faithful, able to be trusted! We sung this morning in church (preplanned before all of this) "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus" How very fitting. It is so sweet to trust in Jesus. I think back on my life and those times when I leaned back on Jesus and trusted Him and not myself, those are the sweetest moments of my life. They were not always the most pleasant or easiest moments but they were so sweet. Right now I feel that as I see this all unfolding..."Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus just from sin & self to cease..." Sometimes we need to cease from self!