Imagine my surprise when I find a new picture of Jaron on facebook. It took me back. .. . I knew it was him but thought it was recent and for a moment I thought he was still on this earth and his death was a bad dream. I can't tell you the connection I have to him and it was evident when I saw this picture. I have to say it was great to see a picture of him looking so good. I love this picture because it's just so sweet. I love to see the ayah holding him. When you look at this picture please remember and think of 20 other kids with special needs that Sarah needs to bring to her Covenant homes ASAP. She is raising funds for this so if you need any info--please let me know. Here is her site on facebook http://www.facebook.com/schindia.

WE WANT LUCY HOME!!!

Ok we are trying this again. I wrote a blog post last night and it didn't post. AHH!!!! Anyways the title says it all. We are praying and praying for Lucy to be home by Christmas. We got our hopes up and a little too sure of ourselves when we received our NOC after 4 wks and we were quoted a possible wait time of 8-16 wks. Well this wk marks 8wks for a court date. We were quoted 8-16 wks for this as well. We have to keep reminding ourselves that God wants Lucy home with us (her family) more than we do. It's just very hard and I don't think people realize it. I have been ok until the past few days and it has just caught up to me. I have a child that needs their mom. I kiss my boys to sleep every night and I wonder if anyone kisses her goodnight. I know Mike feels the same way. I honestly try not to discuss it because I feel like I will fall apart if so.

 We really need patience. This reminds me of a song: While I'm Waiting by John Waller.

Pray for us.

Catch Up

So it's been a while since my last update. I am not good at this blogging thing and I have to be in the right mood to write a post. The good news is that we have had a lot of things happen since my last post. We received NOC and now we are just waiting to pass the local court. We may be able to go get Lucy in 4 months. Wouldn't that be awesome?? I have an appt to get my shots next Wednesday at the travel clinic.

The most awesome thing  is I met someone online 2 days before they left to go pick up their child in India that just happened to be in the same orphanage as Lucy. She and her husband met Lucy and send us video. You have no idea how many times we have watched that footage. She is just the cutest thing. Big bright eyes. Mike also has gotten her room done. Once we take pictures I will post them on here.

Another amazing thing is that Mike is part of the team that is going to rebuild Steven Curtis Chapman's house. He got to meet him and his wife yesterday and tell them about our Lucy and Hayden and Noah. They are praying for us and so very nice.

Right now we are waiting to pass court so if you feel led please say a prayer.

Until next time. . .

Think PINK!!!

Yes you read right--It's a girl!!! We officially accepted a referral for a precious little girl from India. Not sure if we are allowed to mention where specifically she is from so I'll save that for later. I will tell you that she is 2 &1/2 and she is just precious. Her lips, her mouth, her skin. . .  it's all just perfect. Right now we are asking for prayers specifically for her heart to be open to us and for her to be at home with HER FAMILY by this Christmas---2011!!! 

I just can't express how excited we are. I sit and wonder all day long what she is doing and if she knows ---we are coming for her. Oh how wonderful that day will be.

We have lots to do--more paper work----prepare her room, buy her lots of clothes, and so many other things. The boys are so excited. My parents, Mike's parents, my sister, and friends are so excited.

I must be going. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts. Until next time.

What now?

I woke up this morning looking for inspiration of some kind. I was listening to the song, "Your Name" by Phillips, Craig, and Dean. Someone else might be famous for it but this was what popped up on youtube. Anyways this verse seemed to reach out and grab me, "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalm 91:4. For many reasons this verse means a lot to me. I really can't put it in words but it just puts a smile on my face. I haven't blogged in a while because I just couldn't think of anything to write. Life seems to be going along as we WAIT. I feel like our life is kind of on hold while we wait for a match with our child. Now that is not to say we aren't getting out there and doing stuff but it just seems like until our family is complete we are in transition. I am sure alot of adoptive families can relate. Some great friends of mine want to do a fundraiser for us but we want to wait until we get matched with a child. So you see. . . that is on hold.

In the mean time I am reading a fabulous book, Radical, by David Platt. I am half way thru and just realized that the guy is only 32. WOW!!! The book shakes me to the core. It seems like what I am reading I have been thinking about previously so it's kind of crazy in that way. You see... he is getting back to the Bible basics--not our American dream with a little of God's word mixed in. The wild thing is I also just found out that he and his wife adopted their children. He practices what he preaches. On a typical day 26,000 children die of starvation and preventable disease. That is 26,000 Jarons.  It's sad because there are many ---TONS-- of us who don't even know or really think about it because --well.. it doesn't directly effect us. I used to be one of these people. I just went thru the motions of life and I was selfish and if it didn't effect me, it must not matter.  Well I am glad to say I got a healthy dose of awareness.  I just want to share it with everyone that doesn't know. How do I do that??? That is where I am now. How do Mike and I teach our children to be aware and do something about it? How do I not want to strangle the person that tries to tell me that their biggest problem right now is deciding what country club to join?

Anyways that is my latest. . . until next time.

And Time Keeps Ticking By

It's been a while and I am not really sure if anyone reads my blog but it is pretty therapeautic for me. I can't believe it is November already. Where did the time go? We have had some milestones though. Mike and I received a referral and we prayed and prayed and came to the decision that it was not the one for us. First of all it was totally unexpected--didn't think it would happen that fast. Second off, we would have had to come up with $15,000 immediately. Third of all we didn't get a peace about it. She was a sweet little girl and I pray that she finds her perfect family soon. Since she is already cleared for adoption I am sure a wonderful family will get this precious child. There was a tremendous amount of guilt that came with not accepting this referral though. Once we made our decision a weight seemed to be lifted and I know that God is not of confusion so I am sure we made the right decision. But now that we have gotten a taste our patience has not been good. Every Friday afternoon I feel disappointed because it means we have to wait the weekend for another chance to hear about a referral.

Our second big milestone was getting fingerprinted. It was so awesome and I don't think I would have ever been excited to be fingerprinted ( in my college days I expected it. lol) but it represented something getting checked off the adoption list. Wouldn't you know that I knew someone in the immigration office. I am getting just like my dad. He knows everyone and can go to San Diego and run into someone he knows. I am just a chip off the old block. It was a couple I went to high school with that are adopting their second Ethiopian baby. How exciting!!!

Another milestone has nothing to do with adoption but does have to do with our two homegrown boys---Halloween. We did 3 fall festivals/trunk or treat. Needless to say I have been eating lots of minature chocolate bars that are attaching to my thighs. I hate it being in this house because I can't say NO!!!. Mike and I stick our kids with smarties and skittles while we steal the chocolate. Aren't we awful?? Hayden was a homemade Harry Potter and Noah was a clown. We are Halloweened out though.


On a last note, I have been really sad and thinking of my sweet Jaron lately. It is six months tomorrow that he departed this earth and joined Jesus. I am being selfish and wishing I could get one last update about him. I have been praying hard that God shows me how I can honor Jaron--maybe a nonprofit or grant. He was such a great boy and I really can't wait to wrap my arms around him. I broke down in front of one of my dear friends today and I am sure she thinks I am a lunatic even though she is as sweet as pie. I love those friends that love you know matter how looney you are. She has been a true blessing in my life. Right now I have also been praying for Sarah's Covenant Homes. This biggest cyclone in 30 yrs is supposed to hit and her main volunteers are out of the country. I am praying.  I am glad Jaron endured his last cyclone in April and doesn't have to endure this one.

Until Next Time


Lori

Keepin It Real

Ok so last night I was out with some ladies from MOPS(Mothers of Preschoolers) and we were talking about people who gloss everything and make everything sound so peachy. We related it to the Christmas letter you get from people who have the picture perfect life or so it seems. We all agreed that we stop reading after the first couple of lines and that we prefer those people that "keep it real."   You know the ones who admit that their kids get on their nerves from time to time--even daily. Wake up people--it doesn't mean we don't love our kids. It means we are being honest.

Ok not sure where this is going but I decided to delete someone off my facebook friends list. The type of person who makes everything seem picture perfect and someone who loves to act as though her kids are perfect. The funny thing is I know she really stretches the truth. hehe!!!! Anyways it was so freeing and liberating that I might just delete somemore peeps. You see life is too short to surround yourself with phony balonies. lol!!!

Onto the adoption front:   waiting on our agency to approve our homestudy and then we have signed the immigration papers I-800. Getting excited as it is slowly but surely moving forward.

Bless you all!!!

Peace Out!!!
Lori