See ya in a YEAR!!!

Those are ALWAYS the words we want to hear at Kaylin's cardiology check-ups.....and we heard them again today! YES!!

Since we've moved around our Land of the Free, she's had the opportunity (should I say) to see three different cardiologists at three different Children's Hospitals in her three years home. And so it's always with bated breath that I, at least, wait to hear those precious words......."looks good, looks like what we've seen before, no surgery for now, see ya in a year!".....or something to that effect.

Kaylin's Tetralogy of Fallot surgery in China was top-notch and done as well as here in the States. However, at some point in time, unknown to any of us, including her docs, she might/will have to have another procedure to replace a valve. As her pediatric cardiologist explained to us again today, we just wait it out.

Some new information that we had not been told previously was that in a few years, they will start performing an MRI of her heart to get a better picture than what the echocardiogram can show. They will be looking to see if there is any enlargement of the heart beginning to take place. If so, that will tell them that her heart is starting to work harder than necessary to compensate for the valve. We're hoping that it's a LONG way off before a valve procedure is necessary for many reasons. Maybe the best reason is that the procedures continue to be perfected and, hopefully, she might be able to have the valve replaced via cardiac cath vs. open heart again. That would be our hope and prayer if it needs to be done at all. God could always intervene before then.

So......here's our girl donning the latest fashion of a doctor's office gown!!!

Love Without Boundaries

For those who have not adopted and frequent my blog, I have listed on the right side-bar several different agencies that deal with or help with adoption, China, etc. One of those amazing groups is Love Without Boundaries

LWB is a volunteer organization providing medical care, foster care, education, and nutrition to orphaned children in China. In 2008, our overhead was under 10% as we work without salaries in order to get every penny possible to the children. In 2008 we helped almost 400 children have life changing surgery, provided care for 397 orphans in our foster care programs, helped over 300 children attend school, and provided nutrition to 17 orphanages in eight provinces in China. Donating to LWB truly brings hope to those children who live as orphans. You can be a part of changing lives forever.

There have been times that people, when seeing us with Kaylin, have said how wonderful we are for adopting her. Honestly, it was never a matter of wanting to have accolades come our way or feeling "obliged" to do something "social". NOPE...not at all!! Instead, it was definitely a leading to our next child, our daughter, and answering His call to make a difference in her life.

If you are not called to adopt....and we do believe it is a calling.....you can certainly help make a difference in the lives of children who need families, who need hope, who need love. You can be a part of changing even just one life.....forever!!

Take a moment and ask how you might help.......Love Without Boundaries!!

Kites, College and Catch-Up

We've had LOTS of fun over the last month or so....like some kite flying with the help of a kitty cat who decided he wanted desperately to help.

We were soon off to take Jen to college...which she absolutely LOVES by the way. No homesickness for my girl. She was actually talking to a friend of hers who lives close to the university who is homesick and Jen was sharing how much she loves it. She said..."sure I'd love to be closer to get home and see my family, but I LOVE it here!" ....which makes this momma's heart happy to know how well she is doing.

Then, we stopped by my sister's home and had a GREAT time going to their local zoo (my nephew had worked there before heading off to a wonderful island to continue his studies) and some smores around a campfire that night. Our two youngest girls, Kaylin and Becca, have not seen each other in almost 2 years though you'd never know it. They are only 6 months apart and certainly became fast friends again! We miss them all so much!

I just love this girly-girl, crossed legs night picture of them. Mark and I were laughing that you don't have to teach them how to cross their legs...they just naturally know!! LOL!!

So......we're now a little caught up....AGAIN!!

Harper is HOME!

Yes, I am extremely late in posting this...but for all who have wondered about the little girl who was adopted by her parents and not allowed to enter the US.......she is HOME! Yes, Harper is home due to LOTS of people following through and also a true understanding of that she was not going to endanger anyone else either.

You can see pictures of her now at home with her family here.

Thank you if you took the time to help bring this child home!!

Crying for Daddy

For those of my adoption friends, you've probably already heard the story or parts of the story of the Scruggs family who just returned home from China WITHOUT their adopted daughter, Harper. For my family/friends who are reading this now for the first time, PLEASE take the time to read this, view the heartwrenching video as this very easily could have been Kaylin had this new CDC law been in effect at the time of her adoption. Remember our sweet homecoming? It could have been completely different. PLEASE take the time to contact your senators/congressmen about this new law and how it is incomprehensible to leave a newly adopted CHILD in ANY country after the adoption has been finalized.

Because there are many others who can say it better, like my friend Holly, at her blog, here are her thoughts which are exactly mine and there's no point in "reinventing the wheel". The only thing I would add is that for a family who even considers adopting an older child, such as Harper, one of the biggest concerns you have going into such an adoption is how long will it take for this child to attach/bond with you as the parents. To watch their video of them trying to say good-bye had me completely bawling as I cannot.....CANNOT imagine how unbearably hard that was to do.....after she was in the process of doing exactly what was hoped for...she was bonding to them amazingly well. On to Holly's thoughts.......

I'm sure that many of you have heard about the Scruggs family in China (well not in China anymore from what I understand) and their enormous struggle with the CDC over their newly adopted daughter's issuance of a visa. This new ruling affects all families adopting internationally, not just those adopting from China. If you have somehow not heard about this dilemma...please visit the Scruggs' blog HERE. One of the more recent entries is a 17 minute video of him saying goodbye to his 5 year old Chinese daughter, Harper. It is heartbreaking. He used an interpreter to try to help Harper understand what was happening on a 5 year old level and that Mommy and Daddy would come back for her as soon as possible.
The last 5 minutes of the video are almost unbearable to watch. Once she realizes that her Baba (Chinese for Daddy) intends on leaving her with a Chinese family, she gets hysterical. She cries over and over in Chinese, "Daddy- no go, Daddy PLEASE no go!
"There's no way to watch it without tears. None.
This should NEVER have happened!
No parent should have to walk this journey. NONE.
No child should be handed over to her parents and then have to watch them walk away. NO CHILD.
It is so ridiculous to me that Harper was denied a visa to enter the U.S. because she tested positive for TB. She has been on medication for 2 months for it and is no longer contagious!
Not to mention that her family would continue her treatment for the recommended 9 month period here at home, but they won't get the chance. The reality is that all kinds of people are entering the U.S. daily who are NOT tested for TB and many of them have active TB.
If my child went to China with me and contracted TB, he or she could return with me, but not if the child was adopted and not yet a legal US citizen. Right now, Harper has been adopted by a US family. She will become a full US citizen upon entry on US soil. She is in limbo though because of this ridiculous rule. She can't go back to the orphanage and her parents aren't allowed to take her home! I can't even IMAGINE the dilemma they've faced.
And what really bugs me is that I've heard a lot of chattering about it on different adoption boards and there seems to be a lot of people judging this family...as the family had to leave Harper in the care of a Chinese family and return to their jobs here in the US.
How in the WORLD do we think we have the right to judge these people?!?
We can say things like, "Well I would never do that", but you can't know until you've walked a mile in someone else's shoes!
They were on the verge of losing their jobs...they've already been gone more than twice as long as intended and it will be months before she is possibly cleared to enter the US unless something changes with the powers-that-be.
means they have to fly to China and back- AGAIN.
How many of us literally spend everything we have to get to our child?One person on a group I'm part of suggested that perhaps they shouldn't have adopted her if it really took every last penny to bring her home. She suggested that parents should have enough money to act as a buffer in case of emergency. Yeah. I think living in China, with NO income and another child left behind in the States for up to SIX months constitutes MORE than just an emergency!
So how many of us would still "qualify" to adopt if this person's suggestion became a hard fast rule?
I realize this is becoming a rant and while this is MY blog so I can write what I want, I realize that huffing and puffing doesn't really blow the wall down, so I am going to stop and ask you all ONE THING.
Would you PLEASE do your part to stop the negative chatter about this family's dilemma and do something positive in it's place? We can pray for God to move mountains on Harper's behalf. Pray that God will guard her little heart and keep her from experiencing attachment issues related to this unfortunate "abandonment". We can pray that God grants them favor with authorities and that this law gets changed....Immediately!
We can pray for their finances...that God will supply all their needs, that they will have enough emotional energy to be able to pour into their sweet six year old son at home waiting for them, that they will be able to withstand the inevitable comments from strangers who will feel the need to tell them what they should and shouldn't have done.
Someone suggested contacting their adoption agency about making financial donations on their behalf to help offset the additional expenses they have incurred because of this dilemma. I have NO clue if they are having to pay for foster care for Harper or how that works, but this entire ordeal has been WAY more expensive than what they expected it to be. This could have been your story. It could have been mine.
What we NEED to do is to stand together as a body of believers and as a group of adoptive families and support the Scruggs. This has been a nightmare for them...and they are still living it. And so is Harper.
At this point, I don't know what agency they used. If one of you reading this knows, please feel free to leave a comment and I will update this post. Let's stand together on this one!

The only way your heart will get this is to watch (or fast forward it at least) until close to the end. Then, when your heart gets it, do something about it, PLEASE!

Another Possible Journey?

As I'm not yet able to share anything, the Lord has us on yet another possible journey. I'm tellin' ya folks, it's Abraham and Sarah around here, but at least this time we're NOT pulling up our tent stakes. PRAISE GOD!! At a point where I can, I will share what the Lord has been up to, but for now, can I ask you to pray with us, pray for us, pray for another family and for God's direction, wisdom and possible provision? We're on our knees.....a good place to be.

As Kaylin and I have been hanging around the house today by ourselves, I had to get some music playing to keep my spirit up (nothing bad, but waiting oh my).....and put on one of my favorite CDs....an old one....but ALWAYS speaks to my heart. It's the Experiencing God CD from the whole series of works by Blackaby, etc.

One of my favorite.......well no....I think they are all my favorite.....ok one of the songs I'm replaying over and over today is "Where the Silence Breaks"......LOVE IT! Here are the lyrics....if only you could hear the music that really makes it come alive....I'll see if I can find a link to it for you to hear, but until then....here are the lyrics.

"WHERE THE SILENCE BREAKS"

When I seek God in the morning

I feel like I am free

From all the restless voices

Calling out to me

Surrounded by the silence

I surrender to the truth

That to live where I can listen

Is all He calls me

I want to hear the voice of God

No matter what it takes

I wanna be weak enough to listen

Strong enough to wait

It's not enough to know He's speaking

I wanna hear what He has to say

So, I'm standing in the shadow

Living where the silence breaks

I can hear Him in the pages

Revealing hidden truths

Old verses with new answers

For what I'm going through

Like water to the thirsty

His word is life to me

I don't want to miss the moments

When He is calling me

It may be a whisper in the wilderness

A comfort in the pain

It may sound like rolling thunder

Or maybe like a gentle rain

We're listening Lord and waiting and praying to see what You are saying......we don't want to miss it. Are You calling?

It's a BOY!!!!!

Yes, I KNEW that would get some people's attention!!!

So....now that I have your attention. Would you please pass this info on, pray, pass this info on and pray some more?

There is the most precious little guy in China who desperately needs a family. And yes we have prayed and asked the Lord if it's us and the Lord has said no...much to our dismay I might add.

But I have asked this FABULOUS agency if I could advocate for him and they said, "YES, YES, YES"!!!!

This little guy has been in a great orphanage and for the last 1 yr+ (might even be 2 yrs??) he has been fostered by a Christian foster mum from down under. He is 5 years old and speaks fluent....yep fluent English and Chinese!! He also has had the blessing to have a 4 yr old foster sister living with him and his foster mum.....and are they adorable together! OH MY WORD! I've had the privilege of emailing his foster mum back and forth quite a few times and to find out more about him and all I can is he is WONDERFUL and soooooo needs a family!!

Can you all help??? PLEASE??!!!! If I get permission, I'll post a pic later, but I need permission first. If you want more info, you can make a comment with your email address and I can forward more info to you. I'll also delete your comment so your email address does not show if you want to keep it private.

Let's find this little guy a family!!

Thus Far

"Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, 'Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?'" II Samuel 7:18 (ESV)

Thus far....I knew as I read this devotional exactly what it meant. Thus far the Lord has provided. Thus far the Lord has walked with me. Thus far...... the LORD!!!!

When I began to think of the ways in which the Lord has brought us/me thus far over these past many years, but especially the past 4yrs.....WOW!!! We have stepped out in faith to Kaylin not knowing how or where the money was going to come...just knowing it was time. We've said YES to the Lord to the changes in ministry vocation, changes in where we've lived, changes of all kinds. We've walked through some very tough roads financially over the past year or so (as many of you) and watched the Lord God provide in ways that we could not for our children and for ourselves. We can still say "YOU have brought us thus far, Lord"!!!

We are so grateful to the Lord at His faithfulness, goodness and grace to our family. We know that as we continue to walk daily in these earthly shoes that we will encounter awesome times and times where we just don't know if we'll be able to take the next step. No matter what is next though.......we know that the Lord God will be there and taking us to the next.......Thus Far.

Praying that you are seeing God's "Thus Far" for you too! I'd love to hear about it!!!

So, Let's Catch Up.....for real!!

I've now got my cup of cappucino (a nightly ritual with Mark and I to share a cup of cappucino together....he gets the first half and I get the second!....ah...true love!!) and thought I'd finish up the catching up.

OK....so the two biggest highlights of the last 2 months were Jen's graduation and Kaylin's 3rd Gotcha Day.

However, we also had that thing in between those wonderful events called......MOVING!!!! which actually went off without a hitch....well not quite, we did have a hitch on the van that pulled the trailer....but you know what I meant. LOL!!

And the most important part of the moving is that it's DONE...and I mean you can pull the car in the garage done! Now that's DONE with a capital D!!!

I think we're all pretty well settled in here....except for Jen...who leaves in something like 3 weeks now for college. I'm sure she has it down to the minute...just a bit excited about heading off, I do believe, but rightfully so. Honestly, we're just as excited for her though it's gonna be a LONG 3 months until we see her again at Thanksgiving.

Kaylin is also quite settled in now and LOVES her new house (poor girl has been in 5 houses since coming home 3 years ago.....and trust us....not our idea of fun...the Lord does have a sense of humor)!! She talks about this house and that house and really seems to take it in stride, but we're all ready to s-e-t-t-l-e in for a L-O-N-G winter's nap or shall I say several winter naps!!!

We're all enjoying being part of a GREAT church family who are loving and caring...what a blessing to any pastor's family. And I...well I guess it's time to come out of the closet so to speak.....have a new "position". Not new in some ways, but more of a confirmation of what the Lord was speaking to my heart last fall.

Since I was little, I've been singing in church with my dad, singing in church by myself, playing the piano for church services since I was 11 or 12, singing in a group that toured during HS, singing in Worship Teams/Choirs.....just singing for the Lord in whatever way and wherever possible. It's the gift that the Lord gave me and I've tried to use it as much and as best as I have been able and I LOVE IT! There are times when I've been singing whether with a Worship Team/Choir or even by myself where it is like I've walked right into the presence of the Lord and been transported to Heaven in His throne room. Anyone out there know what I mean?

Well, last fall on a day when my devotions were speaking some major words of life to my soul, I began to pray and get this impression from the Lord. I only...only told Mark about it. And basically said, "only the Lord". Well, when Mark got the call to interview at our new church and we did so, "only the Lord" did it. I was also asked, without them even knowing the impression from the Lord (and they still don't....I'll tell them soon! ), if I would consider being their Worship Leader. They didn't have to ask me twice as that was exactly what I was hearing from the Lord!!!

I'm now finally sharing it on here as I guess it's finally sinking in what the Lord has done. Goodness, it's very strange to even type that out as it's been such a desire and impression for so long that it's still hard to believe (oops..almost spilled the cappucino on the keyboard....not good...NOT good!!) that this is my "job" and I actually get to do it.

So, that's one of the reasons why I just haven't had the time to keep the 'ol blog updated as I'm "back to work" so to speak though it certainly doesn't feel like work. I have LOTS to learn and LOTS of room to grow in this new position the Lord has given, but I am sooo enjoying it. I don't take it for granted and I certainly know there are TONS of people who are more "qualified" than I. Yet, I also know that the Lord doesn't always call the "qualified". He calls those He chooses to use and have also said, "Lord here I am....use me if you choose". I'm thankful to be chosen and to be used in whatever way He wants.

The Lord has been saying some really interesting things here recently to my heart. As I have time, I'll be sharing them. The most recent is "Thus Far". An awesome teaching of the Lord's provision.....coming soon! :)

It's good to be back and caught up!

Kaylin's 3yr Gotcha Day Celebration

Three years ago this morning this is what we were doing..........

Yes......clock-watching as we were waiting to meet our new daughter, Kaylin Mei Lian, in Nanjing, China

Not too bad looking for being in labor!!! HA!

And then it happened......we saw in the distance through the window another little one being brought in to the Civil Affairs Office by their nanny and I knew.....just knew

She was here at last.....Kaylin Mei Lian

And finally in my arms



And here she is today.............

Our gorgeous Kaylin Mei Lian at 4 yrs old

How can 3 years pass by so quickly and yet the day she was placed in my arms is like it was yesterday?? I cannot begin to explain what this whole adoption process feels like other than.......birth......in every sense of the word. Excitement, anticipation, butterflies in your stomach, maybe even some nausea (LOL!!) and finally the moment the child that you've prayed for is finally in your arms is pure joy!

Turning 4 years old has proven to be a new milestone for Kaylin as she has happily recounts all the moments we have shared with her about her adoption. Daily, she wants to look at her book of pictures and talk about how we went here and there in China before she was placed in my arms. She talks about her nanny (out of our experience that day....not out of her own remembrance) and about her crib in our hotel room and on it goes. It is so fun to hear her share her adoption story in her own way now.

Today, we celebrate, again, this precious gift of a daughter by heading to our favorite Chinese restaurant with some friends from church. It now has another sweet attraction......... a friend for Kaylin. Her name is Tammy and her parents recently moved here to work at the restaurant. Kaylin and she are becoming fast friends as they play together in between bites of food.

And we have started a new tradition of a Gotcha Day cake too! Kaylin picked it out and it HAD to be purple!!

Here we are now, 3 years later.......and it will be the three of us for awhile since Sissy is headed off to college soon. Can't even imagine what it would have been like to have only been the two of us, Mark and I, that is. Though I know we would have had lots of fun just the two of us, we know that someone would have been missing......

and that someone is YOU, Kaylin!!!

WE LOVE YOU SWEET PEA!

Happy 3rd Gotcha Day!!

Love, Momma and Daddy

Jennifer's HS Graduation!!!!!

It could NOT be possible that the time has come and gone so quickly.....and yet here it is

JENNIFER'S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

Most families get.....oh something like a year.......to plan for their child's high school graduation. Ya know......freshman year, sophomore year, junior year and then finally SENIOR YEAR! Jen decided instead to do it a bit different as we found out in February that she was going to be able to graduate a year early. So, what normally takes a family a year to prepare for, we had 3 months!!!!!! Yet, all along, from the beginning of this school year, she has felt like it was her Senior Year including that all of her friends were Seniors.

Needless to say, we are so proud of YOU, Jennifer!!!! We knew that you were mature beyond your years and always have been. In many ways it hasn't surprised us for this to happen for you. We love you dearly and know that you are just headed for an awesome college experience now and to make life-long friendships at Olivet along with finally getting to that long-awaited nursing degree.

Congratulations on being such an excellent student and even more importantly a beautiful, young woman with such a caring heart whom we are so proud of and love with all our hearts!!!

Sweet Sisters on Graduation Day

May 23, 2009

Summer Catch-up a Comin'

I know, I know, I know......I win the award. RIGHT?

Yes, the worst blogger award goes to.........ME! LOL!!

Oh well....just a heads up that I've now cleared my desk, boxes and brain enough to think about catching up with all the family hoopla over the past 7....YES....7 weeks!! ;) (though I know this post says it's May 22nd...it's really July 11th for all of you who are really watching...aaahhh!).

Stay tuned for more.........

Prayers for the Chapman Family

A year ago on May 21, 2008, was a day I won't ever forget for many reasons. One of those reasons was because of an email I received that dropped us to our knees in prayer for Steven Curtis Chapman and Family. The next email left us without words, with tears and questions and offering up more prayer for them. As many of us know, it was the day the Lord called Sweet Maria Sue home to be with HIM in heaven and to see HIS BIG, BIG HOUSE!

Here's my post from last year following this tragedy.

You can listen in on Focus on the Family for a 3-day interview with Steven and Mary Beth as they share about Maria and the Lord's presence during this last year.

You can also find Mary Beth's blog here linked to my blog. As this past year progressed and the Lord began to give her the strength to share, she has written very truthfully about where she's at personally with losing her daughter as well as family highlights like their son's recent wedding.

Please continue to keep the entire family in prayer as this anniversary rolls around. Last week, they remembered Maria's birthday as she would have turned 6 yrs old. There are no words that can express our hearts for them right now, yet I know.......we KNOW.....the hope that they live with with is Jesus Christ and the reality that they and we will see Maria again in that BIG, BIG HOUSE!

Weekend Recap

What a FUN weekend we had - just a quick recap!

As I'm typing this, I'm trying to remember what we even did on Friday evening. Oh is that bad! Everything is happening so fast and I'm trying to capture moments of each event as much as possible. Obviously, my brain is quickly overloading. Of course, that wouldn't take much these days. LOL!!!

Anyway, I digress, on Saturday we enjoyed a picnic with our new church family at a farm that even had miniature horses as well as this full-size beauty. Jen was just aching to get on him, so they saddled him up and away they went....with Kaylin as you can see. Jen also got a ride by herself though too!

Sunday morning was Graduation Sunday at our local church. I LOVE this pic of Jen and her friends! Of course, the recap of Jen's life on the Graduation Photoshow had me in tears as did Jon and Tim's. It's NOT possible my girl is headed off to college. OK....I can't start that thinking now.....no time and I don't want to be sad either.

Sunday afternoon was Senior pics with an AWESOME photographer! WOW, do we LOVE her stuff and had SO MUCH FUN!!! This was just a quick pic I took while her "professional" photographer was shooting away.

Sunday night brought Jen's Baccalaureate Service which was very meaningful and the students who shared that evening were wonderful as was the special speaker. As Jen was walking back down the aisle of the church to find us, I took a chance and got a quick shot. Luckily, it was a good one! Here she is with one of her best friends from this last year of high school and fellow athletic trainer, Rachel.

The rest of the week is going to be just as busy.....cleaning this house for company, cleaning our new home, trying to get some kind of packing done, grocery shopping, laundry, picking people up from the airport, lovin' on my kids and extended family, family Birthday party for Kaylin, JEN'S GRADUATION and PARTY, more family fun, back to the airport we go.......well you get the idea!!! And next week we move too! AAHHH!!! Calgon will have to take me away some evening, just don't know when yet. So, in between the fun, I'll try and post more, but no promises here. :)

Dot to Dot or Maybe the Sarah Factor

How does the Lord get us from Point A to Point D? Mind you, I did NOT say Point B!!

Or how does HE lay the foundation of what He is doing in our lives and building upon it?

I think it's the combination of big and little things that we are obedient to when HE asks and being as careful as possible to listen so intently to HIS voice and not our own or anyone else's for that matter. And....little by little, step by step HE directs us to the next thing.....whether it be in ministry, in our family....whatever. I kinda think it's like God's own version of Connect the Dots!!!!

And well........we've been in HIS hands and willing participants in HIS version for us because we know that it's the BEST place to be......even when the move HE has called doesn't always fit with what we think our timing would be or when it doesn't make sense to us at the time or we say....."Where?". But so many, many times, we've looked back and said......."Now, we get it!!"

It's definitely living out the "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding" kind of life. As well as one of my verses here on the blog which has become one of our daily prayers..... "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it."...Isaiah 30:21

Over the past month or so, Mark and I have found ourselves in the middle of a strategic and brilliant move in God's Dot to Dot with our lives. Did we see it coming now? Not exactly! Did we think it might come some day? Hmmm....possibly. But it has been very interesting to watch it take place and see the big and small things the Lord God has done in order for it to happen.

When Mark was called out of the pastorate and into CPC ministry, we always said that whenever the Lord called us back in that we would be willing, but always wanted to make sure that it was HIM calling and HIS timing.

Well...........HE has called!!

HE has called clearly and it's definitely in HIS timing. We are headed back to the pastorate in a few weeks and are so excited as is the Church that has called us to serve there. We've watched as the Lord has worked out so many details of this move from the specific home we are renting now to needing a parsonage to Jen graduating early and going to Olivet to the Worship Ministry the Lord laid on my heart last fall to ..........oh I could go on and on.

When I get quiet on here (this blog), it's usually because God is at work and I'm standing and waiting and watching and praying and holding my breath because of so many things that have to happen in such perfect synchronization to make it all come together. But that is WHO we serve. The Perfect ONE. The ONE who does have it all under control even when it feels out of control. The ONE who does know our hearts.....my heart.....my concerns for my kids........my concerns for a place to live.......my heart that wants to serve HIM wholeheartedly as does Mark.

Yes......the Sarah Factor has consumed me again.......you can search Sarah on here and I think you can pull it back up to find out what I'm talking about!! I do believe that must be God's name for me.

I posted on FB a week ago or so that God's river is a fast one....hold on tight! YEP, that's our lives once again. Kind of like the rapids around here. Lots going on.....all good....just BUSY!!!

So, along with Jen's graduation and college orientation, we have a move smack dab in the middle of it all. God has such a sense of humor!! And watching HIM work out all the details............ WOW......is HE ever good!!!!

The Question of the Morning

It's only 7:20 am in the morning and here's the question most on her mind.....

Am I still 4? When am I going to be 5??

Actually....it probably sounds like a lot of us, huh? When we finally meet that goal, we're looking for the next one. LOL!!!

Birthday Party Excitement

Do ya think she was just a little excited?!!

Happy 4th Birthday Kaylin!!!!

As we woke up yesterday and greeted Kaylin with Happy Birthday, her first response was........

I'm not 4 yet, I haven't grown anymore!!!!!

Oh if we all could use that excuse.......I'm not _______ (fill in the blank!!) because I haven't grown anymore! Of course her response sent us into laughter, but I have to say I'm quite surprised as her birthday is the ONLY thing she has talked about for months now.....as she became quite good at counting down the days.

And almost as soon as she shared she couldn't be turning 4 yet, she also told us she doesn't turn 4 until her PARTY!! Ah yes......the party is the turning point of all of our birthdays. So......if we don't have another birthday party for us "old people" then maybe.....just maybe....we won't turn any older either!!

We started out the morning with breakfast pancakes made into the famous mouse....thank you Daddy which turned her sleepy-eyed morning into smiles!

She also decided months and months ago that she HAD to have a Th*mas the T*ain birthday party including the cake!! Last year it was the purple dinosaur. But this year, it had to be her friend Th*mas!!!

And once she saw her special cake, it was more smiles and excitement!!!

As we asked her who she wanted to invite to her birthday party, she talked constantly of inviting Laura Mae and James. They've become dear to her heart and to mine. We met them and their mommy, Marcy, in the park near our homes last fall and it was definitely one of those divine appointments!! They had recently moved from our previous state and we were thrilled to find them and they us. AND.....also thrilled to learn that Laura Mae and James were also adopted like Kaylin. So, we had lots in common as families including not living near any family. Marcy also came to my rescue after surgery as she helped on several occasions by helping to take care of Kaylin while I was in physical therapy knowing what it's like to not have family nearby. Kaylin always enjoys going there to play with Laura Mae and James and especially loving the same little train as James!!

Aren't they soooo cute together??

Two sweet friends

In many ways, it seems that Kaylin has been 4 for a L-O-N-G time already. First of all, she looks like she's 5. Secondly, she talks like she's at least 5 or 6. We've seen such growth in her over the last month or so and a new confidence beginning to start in her sweet spirit. It's fun to watch her blossoming and growing up in these new ways. I've been praying nightly for the Lord to heal her heart....emotionally. Night time is still the hardest of all when she needs momma the most. I know, in time, her heart will be healed from our loving Father and from her knowing the love and security of Daddy and I.

So....tonight.....sweet dreams my dear Kaylin. You finally reached your wish of turning 4 years old today!! I never would have imagined how much my heart could love YOU my precious daughter!!

Ya Wanna See??

Just a quick view of Tim's new wheels.

Pretty sweet, huh??

Needless to say.......he loves it!!

The Surprising Gifts of God

I am shaking my head......we are all shaking our heads right now saying........

God.....YOU are amazing!!!

Let me start from the beginning a bit.... as our boys came closer to that magic age of 16, we were in no way and still in no way able to help them buy a car. At the time that Jonathan turned 16, we had just purchased another used car and were able to give him our used 1995 Ford Taurus with who knows how many miles on it at the time. Here we are in 2009 and he's still driving that car (it's 14 yrs old this year) at almost 23 years of age.

Along comes Tim (3 years later) at age 16 and well....he wasn't quite as lucky! Poor guy got the 1995 Ford Windstar. He wasn't all that happy.......a MINIVAN???? But still he was thankful to have some kind of wheels to get around in. Actually, it's kind of turned out to be a blessing to have that old minivan since he's turned out to be quite the musician and bass player.....lugging all that equipment around in the back/side of a minivan is a whole lot easier than say a.......VW BUG or something of that size. LOL!!

Oh and not that it makes that much of a difference, but both boys also worked while in high school to pay for their own car insurance. So, paying for a car, too, was not in the list of options while paying for car insurance, gas and other teenage essentials!!!

Unfortunately, Tim's minivan hasn't held up nearly as well and it's had untold medical needs....all of which we won't go into here.....and always on it's "last leg" so to speak. And since we have followed the Lord in ministry, we don't even live close enough to help him out when the old clunker decides to.....clunk out.

So....get this.......Tim called us last night to say........"You won't believe this!!!" "So and so (a friend of his/ours) has found me a vehicle on E**ay and wants to pay for it up front. I just have to pay him back $2200 (out of over $5000). I already have $1000 of it and I can sell the old van and get at least half of the other money and have 12 months to pay him back the difference."

ARE YOU KIDDING?? He was just given a gift of $3,000 and the vehicle up front!! And what a cool vehicle it is too...... a 1999 Ford Explorer with only 67,000 miles, 4 wheel drive, CLEAN and loaded!! And....it's being delivered to him tomorrow!!!

I'm shaking my head even now as I type this. Mark and I have prayed for the Lord to meet our kids' needs...especially when we don't have the option of doing it at all. But what an amazing gift this is from his/our friend as well as coming from the Lord!! WOW!!

NOW....on to Jennifer. More than a month ago I shared how Jen was graduating a year early from high school and now we had to quickly decide on a college/university for nursing for her. We did find a local one which we all loved when visiting the campus. She was accepted and we started planning for her to attend there. BUT....the Lord intervened and we saw another place that well......we ALL loved better.......except for the yearly tuition/fees. Like many private universities, it's in the normal range of prices, but for us was it even going to be possible???

She applied and immediately was accepted based on her first ACT score of 26 and her 4.0 GPA, but we were still several thousand off and wondering whether it was going to be possible.......UNTIL she took the ACT again and received a 29!!! YEP....my girl got a 29 on the ACT with only her 2nd try. We think she would have gone even higher if she had time to take it again.

Once again, the Lord is providing now for Jennifer as she is receiving over $$24,500 a year in scholarships and grants to attend Olivet Nazarene University for a degree in Nursing.

God's provisions for our children have been absolutely overwhelming in these days of such uncertainty for so many including ourselves. We have to give HIM praise for all HE is doing for them and for us!!! Thank you, thank you Lord!! YOU are such a loving Father!!

Easter Catch-Up

Phew!! That's about all I can say right now as I'm coming up for air!! Just tonight I downloaded my Easter pics and certainly didn't get all I wanted to...may have to have a couple of "staged" ones yet, but wanted to share a bit of our Easter fun!

A little Easter egg coloring

And a boatload of candy at an Easter Egg Hunt

HOPE YOU HAD A HAPPY EASTER!!!

No Hands But Ours

During our wait for a referral from China, the Lord began to draw my heart towards the special needs children. Honestly, it was somewhat daunting to look at the list of special needs and check off which we would be comfortable with. When your biological child is born, you deal with whatever comes along, but to choose it ahead of time.......ah....not so easy.

One of my adoptive mom friends, Stefanie, at Ni Hao Y'all, and several of her adoptive mom friends have put together an amazing website for prospective adoptive families called No Hands But Ours that shares Family Stories about many different special needs as well as medical information about those needs.

You can read about Kaylin's story under the Family Stories section. She's presently the second story after you click on that link. You can also find her under the Tetralogy of Fallot special needs section.

I know while we were praying over and contemplating the thought of handling ToF, it was so helpful to have other families share with us the story of their child and the every day dealings which a family needs to be aware. Maybe there's a special little one your heart keeps going back to, but you're concerned about the need they may have....this site will give you more information and families to contact who can help as you are thinking about it. I'm sure it will help to bring more children home as families realize that each of these needs also represents another child too!!

You can also find the link to No Hands But Ours on the right side of my blog. Happy reading!

She's YOUR Daughter!!!

How is it that there are some memories that are so imprinted on your mind that you can recall them as if you are standing in the very spot that it happened??

The CALL that we were Kaylin's parents was one of those moments. At work........in my office..........waiting............waiting.............knowing today was the day of THE decision.....more waiting......wondering......and then IT HAPPENED! Our Caseworker, Bethany, was on the line with THE NEWS! "YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO BE LIAN WU LU'S PARENTS!!" Goodness.....those memories never leave my mind and I pray they never do as old age sets in! LOL!

One of my friends, maybe realizing it or not, documented it for me in her post on that day 3 years ago........

To Anita, Mark, John, Tim, & Jenny: Praise be to God!!! All your faithfullness is being rewarded. I know you have waited so long for this, & I can't wait till you bring her home.To Kaylin: I was with your Mom when she got the news that you were to be her daughter. She screamed with delight, then got quiet as tears of joy ran down her face. You are now part of a blessed and wonderful family of God. We, your extended family can't wait to see you and hold you! I am praying for your safe travel. See you soon!!!!! from Joni Tressler

Thanks Joni for imprinting this special day in our minds!

April 17, 2006......She's YOUR daughter!!

Easter.....What More Could Be Said....

3 Years Ago........

3 Years Ago TODAY........

We laid our eyes on this precious girl for the very first time

Lian WuLu

It only took us minutes to decide that we wanted to find out more about this beautiful child and to pray and ask the Lord if she was our daughter. As we prayed and sought the Lord and medical advice about her congenital heart defect (Tetralogy of Fallot), we became more and more certain that she was our daughter. Within 24 hours, we asked to be matched with her by our adoption agency.....as did several other families.....which resulted in our needing to wait on the Lord 2 more weeks to find out which family they would match her with. I think those two weeks were longer than the 15 years of God laying adoption on our hearts or the 9 months since our dossier had been logged into China.

We KNEW then as we KNOW now............but there was more waiting to be done.

FUN Confirmation

Have you ever had those times where you're mullin' something over and over and just wondering about it........and then God just amazes you by confirming EXACTLY what you've been thinking about??

I know that His confirmations about adopting Kaylin kept us walking in faith to her. And He's done it at various times with other decisions we've been making or whatever.

For a little while now, I've been wondering about changing the title of our family blog here. Ya know.......something maybe a bit more fun or creative or.....I don't know just something else.

So.....awhile back I joined Fac*book and have had fun connecting with friends from around the country. Every now and then when I have a bit of time, I'll try and take one of those challenges like....."who are you?" or "tell us about you" kind of things. Just a few days ago, I took a quiz called "Which Mighty Woman of the Bible are You Most Like?" Hmmm....that sounded like fun and a bit intriguing and hoping it wouldn't come back with something like Jud*s Iscar*ot!!! Please NO!

I have to say it was probably one of the silliest quizzes, yet so encouraging too. And here's what it said........

You are most like SARAH

"Dedicated to your spouse, you would do anything for them. You also are a woman of faith, who takes God at His word. You have much wisdom, and are a role model to many other women, both young and old. Your life is filled with adventure, oft times and is unpredictable as you live a kind of "nomadic" existence as the Spirit leads."

Now....I don't know about the "role model" part of all of this....I would hope so. BUT the last sentence was what kinda floored me.....

"Your life is filled with adventure, oft times and is unpredictable as you live a kind of 'nomadic' existence as the Spirit leads."

Goodness, gracious.......that's exactly why we had named the blog...."He Leads Us" as that has certainly been our life as a family. God taking us on adventures and moving us around the country on those adventures. Just this past Monday, my PT, Kim, made mention that with all the places we have lived we are somewhat nomadic. I certainly agreed. Since Mark and I both grew up moving around, there is no one place that either one of us call "home" per se. Home is where we have made home.

And the other part of the "Sarah" comparison is how she had a baby in her "old age". Now....I'm not sayin' I'm old or anything, but Kaylin coming into our lives at our "age" has probably raised a few eyebrows. And Mark told me to make sure I "don't laugh"!! NOPE....no laughing going on here......only rejoicing!

All this to say, it's very cool when God confirms to us His will for our lives in big and small ways and fun ways like this and has certainly confirmed our blog title again and it will remain......."He Leads Us". Hope you enjoy the adventures that God takes us on.......most days we do.....some days they are hard and a bit scary, but we keep walking and staying close to the Lord and at some point He reveals what He was/is doing and then we get that "AHA" moment again that helps to make sense of where He was taking us.

So, come on along on our God adventures as He Leads Us!!

Thankful Thursday

I just couldn't wait to get to Thankful Thursday today...and actually had thought about posting this early, but just didn't have the time.

First, I had my 3 mos post-op visit this week and so thankful to report my surgeon is thrilled with my recovery......ME too!! And his words were....."miracle recovery".....YEP I think so too. I have two PT visits left....one in April and one in May and then a final post-op follow-up visit with him and then it's BYE BYE! Thank you all again for your prayers as they made the difference along with the Lord's hand and intervention. Thank you Lord!!

As I had mentioned previously, the medical bills have been what medical bills are.....too much..... and along with some other financial needs, we've been praying our way through them. Well....the Lord, again, has been so good to us and provided some extra income, at least temporarily, and along with some other God-intervening moments, He is providing financially!! YES, YES! Thank you AGAIN Lord! I want to encourage you all that in the midst of this financial craziness right now in so many places to remain faithful to what the Lord asks you to do and tithe and give as He instructs though it just doesn't make sense from a worldly standpoint. HE IS FAITHFUL and will supply and has continued to supply what we need financially.

And there's one more a comin', but I have to hold off for now as it's still in progress. So stay tuned!! LOL!

With a thankful heart ~~Anita

Natural Beauty and....

I don't even have to say a word except for maybe........

Natural Beauty

and

Pure Joy

Exciting Adoption News!!!

Oh you gotta be wondering what kind of a title that means??? Hmm........maybe I should sit on it for awhile then. LOL!!! NAH!! I'll share.....though I surely wish it was our news.

Another dear adoptive friend, Gwen, who has already adopted two sweet girls from China has been working towards bringing her next two sweeties home and the Lord has given them some really cool direction here recently. You can read all about it at her blog, Oatsvall Team. The Lord also led her to put a book together of adoption stories to help fundraise for this next adoption......AND

Kaylin's adoption story will be one of those stories in her book!! How cool is that?

Another fundraiser that she is doing right now is selling these awesome adoption t-shirts. So, take a jog over to her blog and you can help them bring home two more beautiful children of God!!

Feel free to share this with your friends on your blog too!! Gwen, I can't WAIT to see who Abigail and Joseph are and to watch the Lord walk them into your family!! Luffa you, my friend!!

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