The Power of One
Featured Article:
The Power of One
by Elisabeth K. Corcoran
"I look at the enormity of the problem and I can't help but
think, 'What can one person do?'" It's occurred to me that
I used to think that way but I don't anymore. One person
can do much.
One person can pray with all she's got, begging God to
intervene in any situation, to pour out His power, to give
her wisdom to know what she can and should do. One person
can give of her time in a way that will be a sacrifice to
her and of great benefit to others. One person can give
money -- even a little bit of money -- and that money can
be added to what others have given and then multiplied when
God steps in.
One person can call attention to an issue that is usually
talked about in hushed tones -- making people aware of
something they may have had no idea about. One person can
enter into the darkness, carrying her little bit of light,
and shed great illumination where only dim shadows used to
dwell. One person can touch another person's life in small
ways -- with a kind word, a gentle touch, a moment of time
to listen and hold and cry with. One person can take her
gifts and pour them out into someone else's life, knowing
that freely has she received and freely should she give.
One person can take her hurt and ask Christ to turn it into
a blessing as she connects with the pain of another hurting
heart. One person can move into another person's life in
large ways -- with a shout against injustice, a rallying of
a group to do something of meaning, a hand reaching out to
draw someone out of her circumstances permanently.
Moms, we're told time and again that we as women have the
ability to set the tone of our home. That our daughters
will learn how to be women and mothers by watching and
modeling after us, and that our sons will grow up to look
for wives that mirror their mothers. We have been given not
just the ability, but the responsibility, to do great good.
One life at a time. In our home. And in our world.
This year - 2008 -- can be the year that we allow our "one
life" to do a world of good for someone else's life. What
can one person do in comparison to the vastness of our
world's problems? Each one of us can do much. We each have
so much to give. And we are called to do just that.
"Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father
means that we must care for those in their distress."
James 1:27
My challenge to myself and to each one of you is this: go
be a light in the dark in this New Year, ladies.
May 5, 2008
Are You Pregnant and Need Help?
HELP for pregnant women or girls that don't know what to do. Please, I beg of you, DON'T kill your babies. We and many other coupes like us would gladly love your babies/children. Here is an organization that can help. Or, we would be so honored to be considered to add your child/ren to our loving happy familt! :-) If you chose our family to adopt your child or children we can be reached at
BeautyForAshes4@roadrunner.com or in the comment section of this blog. We can give you our information. We don't care the color or sex. Or, Please read about this terrific organization ( The Project Cuddle™ ) that can help you. One mother that gave her baby life commented that " It finally feels like I did something good." (her baby was placed into the arms of a very loving couple)
____________________
Are you more than three months pregnant?
Do you need help telling your parents?
Have you avoided getting prenatal care?
Do you need shelter?
Will you be harmed if you tell anyone about your pregnancy?
Have you already faced your parents with a previous pregnancy?
Are you afraid of losing a child to "The System"?
Do you feel no love towards this baby?
If you answered yes to any of the above:
Call our toll-free phone number anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Or email us (all communication is confidential).
Don't be afraid about anyone finding out who you are. Every call is confidential. As soon as you call us, we'll immediately give you a private code that keeps you anonymous. No one will ever know you even phoned us.
English : 1-888-628-3353
Spanish : 1-888-483-2323
Email : info@projectcuddle.org
Call our toll-free number 24 hours a day.
What We Can Do For You
• Find you shelter and medical assistance
• Help you arrive at solutions that allow you to walk away with your head held high
• Help you plan a future for yourself of which you can be proud
• Help you get your GED
• Help you find a job
What We Won't Do
• Send an ambulance to your door
• Call social services to pick up your other kids
• Tell your parents (Unless you ask us to)
Contact Us
The Project Cuddle™ volunteers are always available to speak to you if you have any questions regarding your pregnancy or any challenges you may have.
If you or someone you know is hiding a pregnancy call our toll-free phone number anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
BeautyForAshes4@roadrunner.com or in the comment section of this blog. We can give you our information. We don't care the color or sex. Or, Please read about this terrific organization ( The Project Cuddle™ ) that can help you. One mother that gave her baby life commented that " It finally feels like I did something good." (her baby was placed into the arms of a very loving couple)
____________________
Are you more than three months pregnant?
Do you need help telling your parents?
Have you avoided getting prenatal care?
Do you need shelter?
Will you be harmed if you tell anyone about your pregnancy?
Have you already faced your parents with a previous pregnancy?
Are you afraid of losing a child to "The System"?
Do you feel no love towards this baby?
If you answered yes to any of the above:
Call our toll-free phone number anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Or email us (all communication is confidential).
Don't be afraid about anyone finding out who you are. Every call is confidential. As soon as you call us, we'll immediately give you a private code that keeps you anonymous. No one will ever know you even phoned us.
English : 1-888-628-3353
Spanish : 1-888-483-2323
Email : info@projectcuddle.org
Call our toll-free number 24 hours a day.
What We Can Do For You
• Find you shelter and medical assistance
• Help you arrive at solutions that allow you to walk away with your head held high
• Help you plan a future for yourself of which you can be proud
• Help you get your GED
• Help you find a job
What We Won't Do
• Send an ambulance to your door
• Call social services to pick up your other kids
• Tell your parents (Unless you ask us to)
Contact Us
The Project Cuddle™ volunteers are always available to speak to you if you have any questions regarding your pregnancy or any challenges you may have.
If you or someone you know is hiding a pregnancy call our toll-free phone number anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
May 4, 2008
A Tough Life for Stay-at-Home Moms?"
A Tough Life for Stay-at-Home Moms?"
an article by Dr. Laura on "A Tough Life for Stay-at-Home Moms?" Here's a snippet:
One of my recent callers came up with what I'm sure she thought was the singular most legitimate reason for not being a stay-at-home-mom: "... it's not all enjoyable." I kid you not, she actually said that, followed by, "... and I just don't seem to be able to do it well." She did say that being with the kids was fine, it was all the other stuff: housekeeping, shopping, cooking, and so forth - that were described as unrewarding and relentless and, well, just not enjoyable.
She also complained that she just couldn't do it all well. I asked her what part of putting dishes in the dishwasher and making sure the clothes got through the washer and dryer and back into drawers was too complicated for her? She laughed and said that she didn't know why it was hard for her to do it right - it just was. Mind you, this was all said with a tone that did not suggest she had great concern about doing any of it better.
Truth be told, whether coming from a man or a woman, this behavior is self-centered, and displays a character that knows little of honor, obligation and sacrifice. This is a mentality, rampant today, that speaks not of what "I can do for my family?" but only for "What will I get out of what I do for my family?"
Read the full article here: http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34558
No one ever said that marriage, homemaking, and motherhood would be easy, but if this is what God has called us to and we seek to glorify Him in and through this calling, there will be more fulfillment and rewards than we can ever imagine. Sure, that doesn't mean there won't be lots of hard work and sacrifice involved, but isn't that what the Christian life is all about? Dying to self so that God might be exalted in and through our lives.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." John 12:24
an article by Dr. Laura on "A Tough Life for Stay-at-Home Moms?" Here's a snippet:
One of my recent callers came up with what I'm sure she thought was the singular most legitimate reason for not being a stay-at-home-mom: "... it's not all enjoyable." I kid you not, she actually said that, followed by, "... and I just don't seem to be able to do it well." She did say that being with the kids was fine, it was all the other stuff: housekeeping, shopping, cooking, and so forth - that were described as unrewarding and relentless and, well, just not enjoyable.
She also complained that she just couldn't do it all well. I asked her what part of putting dishes in the dishwasher and making sure the clothes got through the washer and dryer and back into drawers was too complicated for her? She laughed and said that she didn't know why it was hard for her to do it right - it just was. Mind you, this was all said with a tone that did not suggest she had great concern about doing any of it better.
Truth be told, whether coming from a man or a woman, this behavior is self-centered, and displays a character that knows little of honor, obligation and sacrifice. This is a mentality, rampant today, that speaks not of what "I can do for my family?" but only for "What will I get out of what I do for my family?"
Read the full article here: http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34558
No one ever said that marriage, homemaking, and motherhood would be easy, but if this is what God has called us to and we seek to glorify Him in and through this calling, there will be more fulfillment and rewards than we can ever imagine. Sure, that doesn't mean there won't be lots of hard work and sacrifice involved, but isn't that what the Christian life is all about? Dying to self so that God might be exalted in and through our lives.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." John 12:24
May 2, 2008
Words worth living by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
Words worth living by
The words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end
the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.
One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are
insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.
So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now.
This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.
Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to he sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning.
Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor
tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights.
The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white
people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk
alone.
As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?"
We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never
be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the
faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state
sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of
oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, When we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last!
free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
--------------
The words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end
the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.
One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are
insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.
So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now.
This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.
Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to he sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning.
Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor
tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights.
The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white
people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk
alone.
As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?"
We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never
be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the
faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state
sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of
oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, When we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last!
free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
--------------
HOPE is in the arms of her family! Praise Jesus!
Can you read this without balling at the special thing God has done? I dare you. Kim and Todd share how it was to finally hold their adopted daughter Hope for the first time. I cry as I picture How sovereign our Lord is. He put this sweet darling little orphan that was left under a bridge as a baby into a FOREVER family that loves and adores her. Please thank the Lord for this marvelous deed! Grab a tissue! http://www.tmphillips.com/adoption/
May 2nd, 2008 Gotcha, bethel
How sweet it is! It’s 2:11am here and I woke up because my side was soaking wet from Hope’s pee! She usually sleeps in a crib but our hotel didn’t have any available so she is sleeping between Kim and I. This soaking is not surprising because the diapers we have for her are pretty thin/lame. The soaking was a little alarming for me personally though because it was my second soaking, and I was the one who got soaked the first and only other time when she was sitting on my lap earlier in the evening. Is it my destiny to be continuously soaking wet by Hope’s pee? I am just kidding around of course, but it’d be a small price to pay to be continue to be able to be near this sweet little gem of the orient.
We now have around 6GB of photos and video from our gotcha day, but I am going to have to leave you waiting in continued suspense because it’s dark and I don’t want to roust anyone by lurking around for my gear. So I will try to give a brief description and then head back to my cold wet side of the bed (with a towel down underneath me).
So we left with our guide and driver and went back through the city of Beijing again past the Square, marveling once again at the sea of Chinese humanity that was present there. Then we had about an hour drive into the countryside. We got a little lost toward the end and then wound up in what could best be described as Podunk China. We made it into a little villageish place and Guillamme met us and escorted us into their complex.
The minute we got out of the van I saw Hope in their entryway, and my heart jumped! I think we were all pretty nervous! We had hugs with Guillamme and Delphine at the van then we hurried in to greet Hope. Sarah was holding her and we all just went up and started to say hello. I can’t remember if Sarah gave her to Kim or if she just set her down, as I had said hello and then spent a few moments grabbing the recording gear. By the time I turned around to point my camera at her, Hope was at my feet and came up to me and I kneeled down and she came into my arms and we hugged! I am tearing up again just thinking about it. It wasn't long before we had all had a hug with her. It was an absolutely amazing moment!
They began to tell us that Hope had been acting out of character all day and and seemed to be a little down and to know that something was up. At the moment we came together she brightened and has been seeming to really enjoy herself and we all have been bonding like crazy!
Bethel is such an amazing place and I really can’t put words right now to how being in the midst of these children impacted my heart. If I have to try, I’d say I feel like I left that place wrecked with love for each one them. Over the course of our four or five hours we had there, we were able to tour their facilities, they sang us some songs and we shared a wonderful cake and watermelon together. We got to go outside and see their goats and chickens and dogs, and to see the new houses that are under construction. It was such a joy to have this time together with Bethel. Many of the kids had a hard time with Hope leaving and needed encouragement. For others it was obvious that it was extra hard for them, because they are aware of their own desire to be adopted. Our guide didn't rush us, and we almost even spent the night, but it didn't ultimately seem the right thing to do. They gave us a keepsake photo album that one of the Ayi’s put together of Hope’s time at Bethel, and a heart necklace for her for when she gets older, so she can be reminded of their love for her…
We got back to the hotel around 8pm and went right out to another Chinese restaurant called South Beach. It was really good food (I have more menu sample photos to share) and ambiance, and it was a very surreal experience to have Hope there with us. Our only minor problem so far has been the few times when Jonathan and Abigail start to fight over who gets to hold her next! It was neat because there was a piano player and violinist playing at the restaurant and it was obvious that Hope was enjoying their music! I held her and sang to her on the way back to the hotel, which was my first extended time of getting to hold her, and my heart continued to swell with affection toward her. She has such a sweet spirit and is very go with the flow. She got a little fussy at one point at dinner but Kimberly did a great job managing it. She was very cute playing with her rice! I got to sing and cuddle her to sleep tonight when she started to get upset, and that was highlight of my whole trip so far! Once she was calm we just lay there for a long time playing with her bottle, and then we fell asleep together.
May 2nd, 2008 Gotcha, bethel
How sweet it is! It’s 2:11am here and I woke up because my side was soaking wet from Hope’s pee! She usually sleeps in a crib but our hotel didn’t have any available so she is sleeping between Kim and I. This soaking is not surprising because the diapers we have for her are pretty thin/lame. The soaking was a little alarming for me personally though because it was my second soaking, and I was the one who got soaked the first and only other time when she was sitting on my lap earlier in the evening. Is it my destiny to be continuously soaking wet by Hope’s pee? I am just kidding around of course, but it’d be a small price to pay to be continue to be able to be near this sweet little gem of the orient.
We now have around 6GB of photos and video from our gotcha day, but I am going to have to leave you waiting in continued suspense because it’s dark and I don’t want to roust anyone by lurking around for my gear. So I will try to give a brief description and then head back to my cold wet side of the bed (with a towel down underneath me).
So we left with our guide and driver and went back through the city of Beijing again past the Square, marveling once again at the sea of Chinese humanity that was present there. Then we had about an hour drive into the countryside. We got a little lost toward the end and then wound up in what could best be described as Podunk China. We made it into a little villageish place and Guillamme met us and escorted us into their complex.
The minute we got out of the van I saw Hope in their entryway, and my heart jumped! I think we were all pretty nervous! We had hugs with Guillamme and Delphine at the van then we hurried in to greet Hope. Sarah was holding her and we all just went up and started to say hello. I can’t remember if Sarah gave her to Kim or if she just set her down, as I had said hello and then spent a few moments grabbing the recording gear. By the time I turned around to point my camera at her, Hope was at my feet and came up to me and I kneeled down and she came into my arms and we hugged! I am tearing up again just thinking about it. It wasn't long before we had all had a hug with her. It was an absolutely amazing moment!
They began to tell us that Hope had been acting out of character all day and and seemed to be a little down and to know that something was up. At the moment we came together she brightened and has been seeming to really enjoy herself and we all have been bonding like crazy!
Bethel is such an amazing place and I really can’t put words right now to how being in the midst of these children impacted my heart. If I have to try, I’d say I feel like I left that place wrecked with love for each one them. Over the course of our four or five hours we had there, we were able to tour their facilities, they sang us some songs and we shared a wonderful cake and watermelon together. We got to go outside and see their goats and chickens and dogs, and to see the new houses that are under construction. It was such a joy to have this time together with Bethel. Many of the kids had a hard time with Hope leaving and needed encouragement. For others it was obvious that it was extra hard for them, because they are aware of their own desire to be adopted. Our guide didn't rush us, and we almost even spent the night, but it didn't ultimately seem the right thing to do. They gave us a keepsake photo album that one of the Ayi’s put together of Hope’s time at Bethel, and a heart necklace for her for when she gets older, so she can be reminded of their love for her…
We got back to the hotel around 8pm and went right out to another Chinese restaurant called South Beach. It was really good food (I have more menu sample photos to share) and ambiance, and it was a very surreal experience to have Hope there with us. Our only minor problem so far has been the few times when Jonathan and Abigail start to fight over who gets to hold her next! It was neat because there was a piano player and violinist playing at the restaurant and it was obvious that Hope was enjoying their music! I held her and sang to her on the way back to the hotel, which was my first extended time of getting to hold her, and my heart continued to swell with affection toward her. She has such a sweet spirit and is very go with the flow. She got a little fussy at one point at dinner but Kimberly did a great job managing it. She was very cute playing with her rice! I got to sing and cuddle her to sleep tonight when she started to get upset, and that was highlight of my whole trip so far! Once she was calm we just lay there for a long time playing with her bottle, and then we fell asleep together.
We did a spirit filled Treasure hunt!
Ladies,
We did the coolest thing on Sunday! We did a treasure hunt for Jesus! My heart has been so convicted. I feel like if I were to die, many would come to my funeral saying how I did and this for Jesus and that I am godly, my kids would be like "WHO are they talking about?" I don't want my faith to be compartmentalized from the rest of my life. I want to share what I do WITH my children. They are the next generation and will need to experience that same resurrecting Holy Spirit that I do as they go out into the world preaching. However most ministries force you to work without your children while I wish to include them. I used to feel the same way, but now I have had sort of a paradigm shift. I want to do "family missions/ministry."
It is neat as we have been praying to do great works for Jesus together as a fam, when Kim ( now in China) mentioned that her Vineyard does a mission outreach that includes children! they WILL BEGIN FEEDING THE HOMELESS in Santa Ana AND other neat things as a family. I got to experience the TREASURE HUNT first hand last Sunday. We went to VCC (Vineyard in Aliso Viejo. ) At Sundays at 3:00 pm in the Prayer Room. We were a bit skeptical at first as we are Calvary Chapelites and they usually don't have this type of activity. :-) I remember thinking "GREAT God's not going to use us, were TOTALLY LATE (probably missed the move of the Holy Spirit! ;-) AND I didn't spend the day in fasting or praying or anything so there is NO WAY He'll use us. (like my works based legalism? ha-ha. There was soft music playing in the back and folks were quietly praying and trying to hear form the Lord. They then came over and laid hands on us (even the little toddler laid his chubby little hands on us to pray!) and prayed that the Lord would open up visions and a word of knowledge for us. Afterward they asked if anyone got anything to come and speak it into the mic. One little boy (6 years old) got up and said he saw "dark green benches and chairs that were empty." Another got up (ages 4 or 5) and saw "Rubio's", a mom came up and said she heard the verse. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life." Oddly enough, my hubby said that for some reason the name "Robert" came to him. He asked if anyone there was named Robert. I told him that "no, one of the men was named Joel, another named Rod, but not Robert. " We shared what Huatzin received and they said that that was pretty neat as usually they don't get names, they get pictures but not names. I got nothing. GOOSE EGG! ;-)
Anyhoo, we prayed again then headed off over to Rubio's, by the church. It was SO weird. SURE ENOUGH when we got there, there were DARK GREEN BENCHES. They were empty just like the boy saw it in his mind. I was nervous as I thought we'd be looking for a Robert, and didn't want to go up to tons of people asking if they needed prayed and BTW is their name Robert... Funny thing, a woman (Chris) comes up and she seemed very touched by all of our children. (8 total) She commented about how beautiful they were and asked what we were doing there. The Dad told her that we were just at church praying and God told us to come to Rubio's and we asked if she needed prayer. She said YES she did. Chris told us that she had many many many health issues, from pathogens in her body, immune issues, intestinal problems, spinal problems, many issues. ( I missed alot of what was being said. I am sure the Lord did even greater things that what is written here! We prayed with her. Then the dad said " I don't know if this means anything to you, but when were were at the church we saw all of these things and we also heard the name Robert. Do you happen to have a Robert or Roberto close to you? She started crying. She told us that the man that had caused her many health issues and had done horrible things to her, abused her, caused her to become displaced from her home, and that had robbed her was named Robert. ( I think he stole her identity or something of that nature) She prays for his Salvation. She had such a sad story of all the pain in her past, her broken home and difficult childhood. ( I am sorry if I am forgetting huge details, I was chasing after the kids quite a bit and wrangling the ones that got to impatient to stand still. Between my kids and the other families kids we took turns praying and watching kids. )
It was funny because if I wasn't there I wouldn't have believed it. She then questioned my son to see if we were for real. She asked where were just came from. He told her the church, she asked him what we were doing, he told her paying. I think she thought we somehow listened in on a phone call or maybe found out about her from some where else. She wanted to be sure it was totally a GOD thing! IT WAS! Anyhoo, I was in SHOCK! I couldn't believe the Lord used my hubby and such little kids! We got to pray and minister to her for about an hour or so.
This was our first time doing this and we were so blessed. I was nervous about having to approach a bunch of people and God was merciful to have HER approach US! Also, I should note, it was the CHILDREN that drew her to us! If we didn't have those children with us it is doubtful that she would have approached us. It confirmed to me that Gods desire WAS for me to minister WITH my children and to incorporate them in ALL that I do! AMEN! You are all more than welcome to join us. It was AWESOME! God is so good. He still moves and gives gifts and wants to see lives restored and CHANGED. He desires to use each of us, from mama and papa down to nursing babe! AMEN! Alida
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Philippians 3:7-11 "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."
May all who come behind us find us faithful." Soli Deo Gloria (For the Glory of God alone)
Alida-Domestic Diva, Proud Homemaking Homeschooling Kingdom building Wife to Huatzin The Noble Knight, Mother to 6 y.o. twins Elijah the Great & Canaan the Magnificent, Virtuous Princess Anaiah Grace (3), Josiah My little man of Valor (1)
We did the coolest thing on Sunday! We did a treasure hunt for Jesus! My heart has been so convicted. I feel like if I were to die, many would come to my funeral saying how I did and this for Jesus and that I am godly, my kids would be like "WHO are they talking about?" I don't want my faith to be compartmentalized from the rest of my life. I want to share what I do WITH my children. They are the next generation and will need to experience that same resurrecting Holy Spirit that I do as they go out into the world preaching. However most ministries force you to work without your children while I wish to include them. I used to feel the same way, but now I have had sort of a paradigm shift. I want to do "family missions/ministry."
It is neat as we have been praying to do great works for Jesus together as a fam, when Kim ( now in China) mentioned that her Vineyard does a mission outreach that includes children! they WILL BEGIN FEEDING THE HOMELESS in Santa Ana AND other neat things as a family. I got to experience the TREASURE HUNT first hand last Sunday. We went to VCC (Vineyard in Aliso Viejo. ) At Sundays at 3:00 pm in the Prayer Room. We were a bit skeptical at first as we are Calvary Chapelites and they usually don't have this type of activity. :-) I remember thinking "GREAT God's not going to use us, were TOTALLY LATE (probably missed the move of the Holy Spirit! ;-) AND I didn't spend the day in fasting or praying or anything so there is NO WAY He'll use us. (like my works based legalism? ha-ha. There was soft music playing in the back and folks were quietly praying and trying to hear form the Lord. They then came over and laid hands on us (even the little toddler laid his chubby little hands on us to pray!) and prayed that the Lord would open up visions and a word of knowledge for us. Afterward they asked if anyone got anything to come and speak it into the mic. One little boy (6 years old) got up and said he saw "dark green benches and chairs that were empty." Another got up (ages 4 or 5) and saw "Rubio's", a mom came up and said she heard the verse. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life." Oddly enough, my hubby said that for some reason the name "Robert" came to him. He asked if anyone there was named Robert. I told him that "no, one of the men was named Joel, another named Rod, but not Robert. " We shared what Huatzin received and they said that that was pretty neat as usually they don't get names, they get pictures but not names. I got nothing. GOOSE EGG! ;-)
Anyhoo, we prayed again then headed off over to Rubio's, by the church. It was SO weird. SURE ENOUGH when we got there, there were DARK GREEN BENCHES. They were empty just like the boy saw it in his mind. I was nervous as I thought we'd be looking for a Robert, and didn't want to go up to tons of people asking if they needed prayed and BTW is their name Robert... Funny thing, a woman (Chris) comes up and she seemed very touched by all of our children. (8 total) She commented about how beautiful they were and asked what we were doing there. The Dad told her that we were just at church praying and God told us to come to Rubio's and we asked if she needed prayer. She said YES she did. Chris told us that she had many many many health issues, from pathogens in her body, immune issues, intestinal problems, spinal problems, many issues. ( I missed alot of what was being said. I am sure the Lord did even greater things that what is written here! We prayed with her. Then the dad said " I don't know if this means anything to you, but when were were at the church we saw all of these things and we also heard the name Robert. Do you happen to have a Robert or Roberto close to you? She started crying. She told us that the man that had caused her many health issues and had done horrible things to her, abused her, caused her to become displaced from her home, and that had robbed her was named Robert. ( I think he stole her identity or something of that nature) She prays for his Salvation. She had such a sad story of all the pain in her past, her broken home and difficult childhood. ( I am sorry if I am forgetting huge details, I was chasing after the kids quite a bit and wrangling the ones that got to impatient to stand still. Between my kids and the other families kids we took turns praying and watching kids. )
It was funny because if I wasn't there I wouldn't have believed it. She then questioned my son to see if we were for real. She asked where were just came from. He told her the church, she asked him what we were doing, he told her paying. I think she thought we somehow listened in on a phone call or maybe found out about her from some where else. She wanted to be sure it was totally a GOD thing! IT WAS! Anyhoo, I was in SHOCK! I couldn't believe the Lord used my hubby and such little kids! We got to pray and minister to her for about an hour or so.
This was our first time doing this and we were so blessed. I was nervous about having to approach a bunch of people and God was merciful to have HER approach US! Also, I should note, it was the CHILDREN that drew her to us! If we didn't have those children with us it is doubtful that she would have approached us. It confirmed to me that Gods desire WAS for me to minister WITH my children and to incorporate them in ALL that I do! AMEN! You are all more than welcome to join us. It was AWESOME! God is so good. He still moves and gives gifts and wants to see lives restored and CHANGED. He desires to use each of us, from mama and papa down to nursing babe! AMEN! Alida
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Philippians 3:7-11 "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."
May all who come behind us find us faithful." Soli Deo Gloria (For the Glory of God alone)
Alida-Domestic Diva, Proud Homemaking Homeschooling Kingdom building Wife to Huatzin The Noble Knight, Mother to 6 y.o. twins Elijah the Great & Canaan the Magnificent, Virtuous Princess Anaiah Grace (3), Josiah My little man of Valor (1)
May 1, 2008
What Do You Do All Day?
What Do You Do All Day?
A man came home from work and found his three
children outside, still
in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty
food boxes and wrappers
strewn all around the front yard.
The door of his wife's car was open, as was
the front door to the house
and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding
into the entry, he found
an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked
over, and the throw rug was
wadded against one wall.
In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a
cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and
various items of clothing.
In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink,
breakfast food was spilled on the
counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog
food was spilled on the floor,
a broken glass lay under the table, and a
small pile of sand was spread
by the back door.
He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over
toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was
worried
she might be ill, or that
something serious had happened.
He was met with a small trickle of water as it
made its way out the bathroom door.
As he peered inside he found wet towels,
scummy soap and more t oys
strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a
heap and toothpaste had been
smeared over the mirror and walls.
As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife
still curled up in the bed
in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up
at him, smiled, and asked how his day went.
He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What
happened here today?"
She again smiled and answered, "You know every
day when you come home
from work and you ask me what in the world I do all
day?"
"Yes," was his incredulous reply
She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."
Priceless
A man came home from work and found his three
children outside, still
in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty
food boxes and wrappers
strewn all around the front yard.
The door of his wife's car was open, as was
the front door to the house
and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding
into the entry, he found
an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked
over, and the throw rug was
wadded against one wall.
In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a
cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and
various items of clothing.
In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink,
breakfast food was spilled on the
counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog
food was spilled on the floor,
a broken glass lay under the table, and a
small pile of sand was spread
by the back door.
He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over
toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was
worried
she might be ill, or that
something serious had happened.
He was met with a small trickle of water as it
made its way out the bathroom door.
As he peered inside he found wet towels,
scummy soap and more t oys
strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a
heap and toothpaste had been
smeared over the mirror and walls.
As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife
still curled up in the bed
in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up
at him, smiled, and asked how his day went.
He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What
happened here today?"
She again smiled and answered, "You know every
day when you come home
from work and you ask me what in the world I do all
day?"
"Yes," was his incredulous reply
She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."
Priceless
Faith lives in a broken heart
Now the church is not wood and stone, but the company of people
who believe in Christ.
-- Martin Luther
If we seek God for our own good and profit, we are not seeking
God.
-- Johannes एक्खार्ट
Faith lives in a broken heart. "He cried out with tears, Lord,
I believe." True faith is always in a heart bruised for sin.
Saving faith always grows in a heart humbled for sin, in a
weeping eye and a tearful conscience.
-- Thomas Watson
Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
-- Thomas Moore
As gold is purified in the furnace, so the faithful heart is
purified by sorrow.
-- Guarini
When you reach the end of your rope you will find the hem of His garment।
I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn't,
than live my life as if there isn't, and die to find out thereis
who believe in Christ.
-- Martin Luther
If we seek God for our own good and profit, we are not seeking
God.
-- Johannes एक्खार्ट
Faith lives in a broken heart. "He cried out with tears, Lord,
I believe." True faith is always in a heart bruised for sin.
Saving faith always grows in a heart humbled for sin, in a
weeping eye and a tearful conscience.
-- Thomas Watson
Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
-- Thomas Moore
As gold is purified in the furnace, so the faithful heart is
purified by sorrow.
-- Guarini
When you reach the end of your rope you will find the hem of His garment।
I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn't,
than live my life as if there isn't, and die to find out thereis
Apr 21, 2008
Right is right
I saw this verse today and thought it perfect. In a time where many believe nothing is absolute and everything is relative, in the day of if it feels good , then do it, if it makes me happy then it can't be wrong, and in a day of constant rationalizing of all sorts of immoral behavior, and political correctness and shirking of personal responsibility, I thought this was a wonderful reminder!
Right is right,
even if everyone is against it;
and wrong is wrong,
even if everyone is for it.
-- William Penn
I also heard Greg Laurie Tell a funny quote. "If the bible says one thing and you believe another, YOUR wrong. :-) Isn't that funny?
Right is right,
even if everyone is against it;
and wrong is wrong,
even if everyone is for it.
-- William Penn
I also heard Greg Laurie Tell a funny quote. "If the bible says one thing and you believe another, YOUR wrong. :-) Isn't that funny?
Apr 19, 2008
Wow an answer to prayer!
Almost everyday I chat with one of my best friends (Gina, girl I love ya) on the phone. Each day we pray for one another before getting of the phone. Today after she prayed for me, I added that prayer for some of my relatives that are going through very hard times, for salvation for both friends and families. Also, I prayed mentioning that we haven't heard anything back from the foster care agency that we signed up for and that if it wasn't God's will that He'd take the desire away to adopt, that His will be done. I didn't think anything of the prayer.
Hours later, I checked the email and a friend of mine typed that she knew of a Black/Hispanic biracial couple seeking an adoptive family for their child, a baby boy due SOON. They wanted a biracial family to adopt this child. And am I interested? OF COURSE! we are black/Hispanic. We sent our information and a picture. We are praying whatever God's will for us is. If nothing else we PRAISE the Lord that this special couple chose LIFE for their baby! AMEN! I pray if it is not us that is chosen that another godly family would be blessed with this child. I don't want to get my hopes up. I know the Lord will bless us with more children, either now or sometime in the future. The thought of holding a precious newborn in my arms in just a few short months sounds absolutely wonderful. Nevertheless, His will, not mine.
A friend of mine just shared Statistics that said that not only are we Christians having an equal amount of abortions, but we are actually having a HIGHER percentage of abortions than the nonbelievers! Is that astonishing or what? I am totally flabbergasted at that. I guess folks want to hide it, but God's Word says what is done in secret will be shouted from the rooftops! There is NO peace in covering up sin, it just begets MORE sin. There is healing in the confession and dealing with the sin. I should know, The Lord forgave and redeemed mine, even used it for His Glory.
I remember reading about girls that back in the day girls would hide pregnancies with baggy clothes, then leave babies on doorsteps or give their baby up for adoption. We'd be thrilled to find a baby at our door. ;-)
Canaan told me last night "Mama, wouldn't it be great if there was a sign on our porch that said that mommies don't have to
kill the babies in their tummies and that they could leave them on our doorstep? We would open our door and take care of the babies?"
I have been praying the last couple of weeks for those aborted babies, and those babies that are discarded in dumpsters and other places. I keep praying that the Lord would somehow direct these children to us! I want to tell the mothers that there children ARE WANTED! If you could spread the word, we don't care the color. We would gladly take in any babies and give them a loving home a future and a hope! My heart grieves after reading about the Santa Ana woman (I live in Santa Ana)that gave birth to a baby and then buried it in the yard. I don't know what awful circumstances we went on that caused her to do such a thing. I pray girls/women would chose life for their babies, even if they won't be the ones to raise them. If you guys want to spread the word. We love children and color doesn't matter to us. Every child is a wanted child to us. I am totally serious! Wouldn't that be such a testimony of God's goodness! ;-) Be Blessed. Alida w4
Hours later, I checked the email and a friend of mine typed that she knew of a Black/Hispanic biracial couple seeking an adoptive family for their child, a baby boy due SOON. They wanted a biracial family to adopt this child. And am I interested? OF COURSE! we are black/Hispanic. We sent our information and a picture. We are praying whatever God's will for us is. If nothing else we PRAISE the Lord that this special couple chose LIFE for their baby! AMEN! I pray if it is not us that is chosen that another godly family would be blessed with this child. I don't want to get my hopes up. I know the Lord will bless us with more children, either now or sometime in the future. The thought of holding a precious newborn in my arms in just a few short months sounds absolutely wonderful. Nevertheless, His will, not mine.
A friend of mine just shared Statistics that said that not only are we Christians having an equal amount of abortions, but we are actually having a HIGHER percentage of abortions than the nonbelievers! Is that astonishing or what? I am totally flabbergasted at that. I guess folks want to hide it, but God's Word says what is done in secret will be shouted from the rooftops! There is NO peace in covering up sin, it just begets MORE sin. There is healing in the confession and dealing with the sin. I should know, The Lord forgave and redeemed mine, even used it for His Glory.
I remember reading about girls that back in the day girls would hide pregnancies with baggy clothes, then leave babies on doorsteps or give their baby up for adoption. We'd be thrilled to find a baby at our door. ;-)
Canaan told me last night "Mama, wouldn't it be great if there was a sign on our porch that said that mommies don't have to
kill the babies in their tummies and that they could leave them on our doorstep? We would open our door and take care of the babies?"
I have been praying the last couple of weeks for those aborted babies, and those babies that are discarded in dumpsters and other places. I keep praying that the Lord would somehow direct these children to us! I want to tell the mothers that there children ARE WANTED! If you could spread the word, we don't care the color. We would gladly take in any babies and give them a loving home a future and a hope! My heart grieves after reading about the Santa Ana woman (I live in Santa Ana)that gave birth to a baby and then buried it in the yard. I don't know what awful circumstances we went on that caused her to do such a thing. I pray girls/women would chose life for their babies, even if they won't be the ones to raise them. If you guys want to spread the word. We love children and color doesn't matter to us. Every child is a wanted child to us. I am totally serious! Wouldn't that be such a testimony of God's goodness! ;-) Be Blessed. Alida w4
Apr 14, 2008
Another Heidi Baker Conference
Last weekend was really neat for us. We attended a conference to hear Mel Tari and Heidi Baker. It was very neat! If you don't know who Mel Tari is, then you are in for a treat if you listen to any of his sermons online or check out his site http://www.worldmissioninternational.com/
He has preached the gospel for over 40 years and is from Indonesia the worlds LARGEST Muslim country (did you now that? ) He has seen the dead raised, water turn to wine, walked on water and led a million to Christ. you can see him on youtube if you google him and read his book "like a mighty wind) Heidi baker is equally awesome. She has ministered to thousands of orphans in Mozambique, and has experienced many miracles such as healings and food being multiplied. I could go on and on about her ministry. http://www.irismin.org/ Anyhoo, love all things that include missions and caring for orphans so I was THRILLED to take a day off of schooling to bring the kids to this conference! It was AWESOME! I am now so convinced that my children can sit contently during church service. We were there form 12- almost 6:00 at night and my kids were great! It was so wonderful to be there to experience all that with my children. So many people came up to us and were so blessed by seeing the children there. They would all come by to comment on how precious they were, how wonderful and well behaved they were ( yes even I was surprise) many came to lay hands on my children as they all said they felt the Lord would use the children (my family greatly) It was wonderful because if the kids got a bit loud it was ok as folks were speaking in tongues and so joyful they hardly noticed a squirmy kid or two! We brought musical instruments and let the kids worship before the Lord as David did. It was wonderful to have so many come by and speak LIFE and blessings into our spirits.
An odd thing that happened was this. Many came with positive uplifting words of encouragement to us. One lady came up and was doting on Anaiah speaking about how cute she is. I asked her if she has children and she replied that she had one grown daughter and one granddaughter and that was all the grandchildren she'd ever have. My face must have given away a bit of sorrow for her she assured me that it was a good thing and that not everyone can handle more than one. She asked how she could pray for us and I replied that our biggest prayer is regarding the Lord leading us in adoption. She looked at me with huge eyes stopping to stare at each of my children as though they had 3 heads or something and asked WHY we'd want to do that, that it was too much work. She went on to further talk about it (not favorably) until i shared my heart.
I must also mention that this big church had flags of the nations all over the ceiling. An interesting thing is that when we walked in I didn't notice it until I looked up and had already parked my stroller but we just happen to be standing in front of.. you guessed it Haiti's flag, Ethiopia, India.. I searched frantically for Liberia's hoping it was a sign, sure enough I standing RIGHT by it! ALL the nations in front of me and I happen to be standing by the ones I am praying to adopt form.. Anyhow, I pointed this out to her. I said look at these flags, the nations Haiti, India, Ethiopia, and Liberia. I told her that I pray to be the mother of NATIONS, that I pray that we'd be able to adopt form EACH of those countries and not just one child either, but couple or a few, I told her I want to be FRUITFUL! I pray to be MULTIPLIED! My kids were all excited about it. She replied that is just to hard, too much! I told her But the Lord my God will provide the strength! I almost wanted to tell her that she the quote that "the bible says that children are blessings and that debt it a curse but in our culture we reject the blessings and apply for the curse. The world tells us that motherhood is unfulfilling and "too hard" that there are better ways to spend our time. that we can better minister for Jesus if we don't have to much baggage (children) but my children ARE my ministry! God doesn't CALL the equipped, He equips the CALLED! ;-)
She walked away huge eyed and puzzled. She was very sweet about it but I felt sorry for her. When I went home I brought back some great literature to give to her daughter but I didn't see her again. When she walked away I felt I had to SHAKE OFF that spirit of discouragement, that spirit of not valuing my children as the wonderful blessings, the gifts that they are! I opened my heart to the Lord to use me anyway He sees fit, and to stretch me until I look like Him. I asked him to take my will and my life and make it to look like his masterpiece. I was SO encouraged. Funny thing, Mel got up and preached about how important it is to be where God plants us, even if all we ever will be in this life is a homemaking mother, to do it unto the Lord with eternity in mind. Can i get an AMEN!
He spoke of Billy Grahams mama and how a mother and her children can change the WORLD! He spoke about the man who led Billy Graham to the Lord. he was just a lowly shoe shiner. He said that "even if Billy Graham is the ONLY person he ever led to the Lord, HE DID GOOD!!!" He spoke about how wonderful godly mothers are, then spoke about his own mother. I prayed yet again that the Lord would give me the children that people either can't keep or don't want. I have been praying for some time that he'd SPARE the lives of those that would abort there babies or throw them away and that somehow they'd find a way to our home! Then Heidi Baker got up and said something like "people don't kill your children, that she'd take unwanted children! How funny. Be blessed.
Psalm 127" Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
He has preached the gospel for over 40 years and is from Indonesia the worlds LARGEST Muslim country (did you now that? ) He has seen the dead raised, water turn to wine, walked on water and led a million to Christ. you can see him on youtube if you google him and read his book "like a mighty wind) Heidi baker is equally awesome. She has ministered to thousands of orphans in Mozambique, and has experienced many miracles such as healings and food being multiplied. I could go on and on about her ministry. http://www.irismin.org/ Anyhoo, love all things that include missions and caring for orphans so I was THRILLED to take a day off of schooling to bring the kids to this conference! It was AWESOME! I am now so convinced that my children can sit contently during church service. We were there form 12- almost 6:00 at night and my kids were great! It was so wonderful to be there to experience all that with my children. So many people came up to us and were so blessed by seeing the children there. They would all come by to comment on how precious they were, how wonderful and well behaved they were ( yes even I was surprise) many came to lay hands on my children as they all said they felt the Lord would use the children (my family greatly) It was wonderful because if the kids got a bit loud it was ok as folks were speaking in tongues and so joyful they hardly noticed a squirmy kid or two! We brought musical instruments and let the kids worship before the Lord as David did. It was wonderful to have so many come by and speak LIFE and blessings into our spirits.
An odd thing that happened was this. Many came with positive uplifting words of encouragement to us. One lady came up and was doting on Anaiah speaking about how cute she is. I asked her if she has children and she replied that she had one grown daughter and one granddaughter and that was all the grandchildren she'd ever have. My face must have given away a bit of sorrow for her she assured me that it was a good thing and that not everyone can handle more than one. She asked how she could pray for us and I replied that our biggest prayer is regarding the Lord leading us in adoption. She looked at me with huge eyes stopping to stare at each of my children as though they had 3 heads or something and asked WHY we'd want to do that, that it was too much work. She went on to further talk about it (not favorably) until i shared my heart.
I must also mention that this big church had flags of the nations all over the ceiling. An interesting thing is that when we walked in I didn't notice it until I looked up and had already parked my stroller but we just happen to be standing in front of.. you guessed it Haiti's flag, Ethiopia, India.. I searched frantically for Liberia's hoping it was a sign, sure enough I standing RIGHT by it! ALL the nations in front of me and I happen to be standing by the ones I am praying to adopt form.. Anyhow, I pointed this out to her. I said look at these flags, the nations Haiti, India, Ethiopia, and Liberia. I told her that I pray to be the mother of NATIONS, that I pray that we'd be able to adopt form EACH of those countries and not just one child either, but couple or a few, I told her I want to be FRUITFUL! I pray to be MULTIPLIED! My kids were all excited about it. She replied that is just to hard, too much! I told her But the Lord my God will provide the strength! I almost wanted to tell her that she the quote that "the bible says that children are blessings and that debt it a curse but in our culture we reject the blessings and apply for the curse. The world tells us that motherhood is unfulfilling and "too hard" that there are better ways to spend our time. that we can better minister for Jesus if we don't have to much baggage (children) but my children ARE my ministry! God doesn't CALL the equipped, He equips the CALLED! ;-)
She walked away huge eyed and puzzled. She was very sweet about it but I felt sorry for her. When I went home I brought back some great literature to give to her daughter but I didn't see her again. When she walked away I felt I had to SHAKE OFF that spirit of discouragement, that spirit of not valuing my children as the wonderful blessings, the gifts that they are! I opened my heart to the Lord to use me anyway He sees fit, and to stretch me until I look like Him. I asked him to take my will and my life and make it to look like his masterpiece. I was SO encouraged. Funny thing, Mel got up and preached about how important it is to be where God plants us, even if all we ever will be in this life is a homemaking mother, to do it unto the Lord with eternity in mind. Can i get an AMEN!
He spoke of Billy Grahams mama and how a mother and her children can change the WORLD! He spoke about the man who led Billy Graham to the Lord. he was just a lowly shoe shiner. He said that "even if Billy Graham is the ONLY person he ever led to the Lord, HE DID GOOD!!!" He spoke about how wonderful godly mothers are, then spoke about his own mother. I prayed yet again that the Lord would give me the children that people either can't keep or don't want. I have been praying for some time that he'd SPARE the lives of those that would abort there babies or throw them away and that somehow they'd find a way to our home! Then Heidi Baker got up and said something like "people don't kill your children, that she'd take unwanted children! How funny. Be blessed.
Psalm 127" Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
Apr 10, 2008
Have you ever considered ?
Have you ever considered the blessings you have, that you wouldn'thave had if you hadn't had the trials you have had? Have you thanked theLord for those trials? Something to ponder. (by penny
(by me)I am so thankful for my upbringing and where I came from. I used to experience such sorrow and anguish over it. The Lord has used it in anwonderful redemptive way! I praise God for my husband and my children, wehad a rocky beginning and have come fourth as gold. I thank the Lord for theugly trial of last year! I have such a gratefulness now, that I wouldn'thave had, had we not walked through the fiery furnace!
(by me)I am so thankful for my upbringing and where I came from. I used to experience such sorrow and anguish over it. The Lord has used it in anwonderful redemptive way! I praise God for my husband and my children, wehad a rocky beginning and have come fourth as gold. I thank the Lord for theugly trial of last year! I have such a gratefulness now, that I wouldn'thave had, had we not walked through the fiery furnace!
Apr 7, 2008
The Siege
The Siege
Several hundred years before Christ, Samaria was under siege by the Syrians. For those of you who do not understand what a siege is let me explain. In a siege, an army surrounds a place, in this case - Jerusalem, so that nothing can come in or out. That means supplies like food and water may become scarce. As food runs out, people begin to die but the dead can't be taken out so disease becomes a problem on top of starvation. In 2 Kings, a very bleak situation is described. Verse 25 states that donkey heads and bird droppings were sold for food. Yes, donkey brains and bird poop were bought as food and people paid a lot for it. Verses 28 and 29 describe an even more shocking source of food; one woman ate her own son in a sick pact with another woman. Samaritans were hungry and desperate.
God stepped in and ran off the Syrians but no one knew that it was OK to leave the city. No one knew except for four lepers whose story is told in chapter seven. These lepers were desperate and decided to surrender figuring the worst that could happen would be that they would be killed but they thought they might be spared and kept alive.
2 Kings 7:8-11 (NKJV)
8 And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it.
9 Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household." 10 So they went and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, saying, "We went to the Syrian camp, and surprisingly no one was there, not a human sound-only horses and donkeys tied, and the tents intact." 11 And the gatekeepers called out, and they told it to the king's household inside.
Thousands of years after Christ, the world is under siege. Demonic powers rule, keeping millions of people from getting food - the Bread of Life and the Living Water. God intervened but there are still people trapped in the walls of sin - starving. So many of us lepers want to just horde spiritual treasures for ourselves in bible studies, retreats, festivals, and whatever. Will the Son come up before we realize we should have been shouting at the city walls? "The siege is over. The victory is won."
Several hundred years before Christ, Samaria was under siege by the Syrians. For those of you who do not understand what a siege is let me explain. In a siege, an army surrounds a place, in this case - Jerusalem, so that nothing can come in or out. That means supplies like food and water may become scarce. As food runs out, people begin to die but the dead can't be taken out so disease becomes a problem on top of starvation. In 2 Kings, a very bleak situation is described. Verse 25 states that donkey heads and bird droppings were sold for food. Yes, donkey brains and bird poop were bought as food and people paid a lot for it. Verses 28 and 29 describe an even more shocking source of food; one woman ate her own son in a sick pact with another woman. Samaritans were hungry and desperate.
God stepped in and ran off the Syrians but no one knew that it was OK to leave the city. No one knew except for four lepers whose story is told in chapter seven. These lepers were desperate and decided to surrender figuring the worst that could happen would be that they would be killed but they thought they might be spared and kept alive.
2 Kings 7:8-11 (NKJV)
8 And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it.
9 Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household." 10 So they went and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, saying, "We went to the Syrian camp, and surprisingly no one was there, not a human sound-only horses and donkeys tied, and the tents intact." 11 And the gatekeepers called out, and they told it to the king's household inside.
Thousands of years after Christ, the world is under siege. Demonic powers rule, keeping millions of people from getting food - the Bread of Life and the Living Water. God intervened but there are still people trapped in the walls of sin - starving. So many of us lepers want to just horde spiritual treasures for ourselves in bible studies, retreats, festivals, and whatever. Will the Son come up before we realize we should have been shouting at the city walls? "The siege is over. The victory is won."
Mar 31, 2008
Got to see Heidi Baker!
If you have read the book "there's always enough" by Heidi barker,than you know it was quite a treat that i got to see her thisevening! They did an evangelism /worship gathering at USC. They had aconcert and skits. It is a different kind of crowd. Many are likeDavid that dance before the Lord. it was WONDERFUL! I just admire herso much for her work~! They lived in Indonesia and England and otherplaces and ministered to not just the well to do or decent people,but to the drug addicted, the homeless, the prostitute, theuntouchables! Many came to God. When they go minister to people, theywould always live in the same ghetto places, slums like whoever theyministered to! That is how they'd gain their trust!
Then with only like 30 bucks in her pocket, she and her hubby went toMozambique. There they changed the nation by stopping for each andevery single orphan or person diseased or not, that came their way(many a times catching lice, scabies etc from holding and lovingthem. and it has sprung into an organization that has started 9000churches in the bush across the Africa and the WORLD! They feed about7000 kids a day, plus many others! Many times they didn't have enoughfood for the kids but they'd pray about it and the Lord wouldmultiply the food like in the gospels.They train up many pastors and encourage each pastor to adoptanywhere form 1-10 orphans and disciple them and trains them IN ADDITION to the other pastoral duties that they have! It is workingand many orphans are finding homes and being raised up to continue ontheir fathers work! AMEN! you can sign up to pray with them atwww.iris.com or www.iris.orgI am so inspired! They Baker family did all these mighty exploits forHim with two children of their own and adopted TONS AND TONS oforphans! It gives me hope that I or at least my children willdedicate their lives to minister to others and reach out to thoseshunned and forgotten by society. I got to see kids tonight that weregrown adults that were ministering to others, they had been snatchedfrom the clutches of death and starvation and put into a lovingfamily! It was just so cool!
Funny thing, folks kept coming up to usto pray for us. Once for my hubby and I, one for me, then someonefelt so moved to pray for the kids. She felt the call of God uponthem strongly.A gal came up and asked what we are praying for. My hubby said we arepraying to adopt! ( i just LOVE to hear him say that! The Lord hasworked in his heart in amazing ways!) Anyhoo she said something tothe extent of the Lord making us like Abraham, a great nationnumerous as the stars. If any of you know my heart, you know I wouldLOVE to have like 10 or 15 adopted children in addition to howevermany the Lord would give us. Anyways, I just love hearing about folksthat were blind getting healed, those that were dead being raised. Itis convicting that Jesus said that those thing that He did we wouldalso do, but greater. I have yet to lay hands on a blind, deaf orparalytic and have those things happen. ;-( Lord do I have to moveinto some 3rd world country to do that? or can I PLEASE do it fromthe comforts of my own home! <---only partly kidding. be blessed and inspired to move deeper in yourwalk ladies winning souls for jesus! love, Alida
Then with only like 30 bucks in her pocket, she and her hubby went toMozambique. There they changed the nation by stopping for each andevery single orphan or person diseased or not, that came their way(many a times catching lice, scabies etc from holding and lovingthem. and it has sprung into an organization that has started 9000churches in the bush across the Africa and the WORLD! They feed about7000 kids a day, plus many others! Many times they didn't have enoughfood for the kids but they'd pray about it and the Lord wouldmultiply the food like in the gospels.They train up many pastors and encourage each pastor to adoptanywhere form 1-10 orphans and disciple them and trains them IN ADDITION to the other pastoral duties that they have! It is workingand many orphans are finding homes and being raised up to continue ontheir fathers work! AMEN! you can sign up to pray with them atwww.iris.com or www.iris.orgI am so inspired! They Baker family did all these mighty exploits forHim with two children of their own and adopted TONS AND TONS oforphans! It gives me hope that I or at least my children willdedicate their lives to minister to others and reach out to thoseshunned and forgotten by society. I got to see kids tonight that weregrown adults that were ministering to others, they had been snatchedfrom the clutches of death and starvation and put into a lovingfamily! It was just so cool!
Funny thing, folks kept coming up to usto pray for us. Once for my hubby and I, one for me, then someonefelt so moved to pray for the kids. She felt the call of God uponthem strongly.A gal came up and asked what we are praying for. My hubby said we arepraying to adopt! ( i just LOVE to hear him say that! The Lord hasworked in his heart in amazing ways!) Anyhoo she said something tothe extent of the Lord making us like Abraham, a great nationnumerous as the stars. If any of you know my heart, you know I wouldLOVE to have like 10 or 15 adopted children in addition to howevermany the Lord would give us. Anyways, I just love hearing about folksthat were blind getting healed, those that were dead being raised. Itis convicting that Jesus said that those thing that He did we wouldalso do, but greater. I have yet to lay hands on a blind, deaf orparalytic and have those things happen. ;-( Lord do I have to moveinto some 3rd world country to do that? or can I PLEASE do it fromthe comforts of my own home! <---only partly kidding. be blessed and inspired to move deeper in yourwalk ladies winning souls for jesus! love, Alida
Mar 19, 2008
Beginning stages of our Adoption/first support meeting
This is from february 23rd.
The Lord is getting ready to do A NEW thing. I am so excited. I signed up for this So Cal Haitian group that focused on Haiti and African adopted kids. I was invited to attend a function with people form neighboring churches in Orange county that had either already adopted, or were in the process of adopting. It was WONDERFUL! Can I share what I saw... I walked in and saw children from all ethnicities that had been placed in loving homes! This must be what heaven looks like. MANY joyful happy kids form all the colors of God's magnificent Earth! There was a gorgeous little Indian looking girl, I just missed meeting the Ethiopian child. Plenty of black children, Caucasian and mixed. It was so neat! I feel in LOVE with a beautiful little brown skinned curly headed girl that was just gorgeous. Her sweet German father told me that she was a safe haven baby Safe Haven ( http://www.babysafe.ca.gov/ ) I rejoiced to see this beautiful child alive and thriving. Her mother chose LIFE for her. In this day and age of convenience and moral relativism a mother thought it wise to give her child a future PRAISE GOD! She seemed to like me and I asked if her if I could take her home, she said yes! hehehe I reminded myself not to covet and that she already HAD a loving home.
I got to meet two families that are adopting from Haiti that I clicked with. One gal, Angela http://www.makefunofyourday.blogspot.com/ already has three children and wasn't even looking to adopt when God called her to it. God told her to adopt this little girl that has some medical issues. He later told her to ask about her siblings, that the orphanage didn't even know about. Later the birth mother gave birth to another child, a little boy. Some friends that visited the orphanage mentioned that they saw the birth mother of her adopted kids and that she had a baby, and asked if she was interested. She called the orphanage to ask about the baby. the pastor asked her "how did you find to about the baby? " He told her that the birth mother had come to him asking if Angela would be willing to adopt the baby as she is already adopting the siblings. the director said that the didn't want to ask her or she might feel pressured to take that child as well. Instead he told her that he would PRAY that if it was God's will for the baby boy to be adopted by that family, that SOME ONE OTHER THAN HIM would tell them about the baby! AND GOD DID IT! ( isn't He good like that!)
Finally a friend mentioned to Angela about three teens that were about to become too old to be adopted into a loving home and if she would pray for them. She said she would ONLY pray for them as she wasn't looking to adopt a teen. As she prayed for the three teens God spoke to her heart that one of them was her son! She obeyed and went and visited all the children and love EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM! Isn't God good. We both cried at her telling of the story!
The other family http://www.bringingkeananhome.blogspot.com/ I met adopted a cute little African American boy a little younger than my boys. She has a little toddler girl (bio) and is adopting another toddler named Keenan from Haiti. Her hubby spoke passionately that if the adoption was going to take 18 months (as that seems to be how long adoptions are taking for Haiti these days if not LONGER) that he'd move the whole family there and live in Haiti because THAT IS HIS SON! Wow. I was totally inspired!!!! What a sweet wonderful family. Kristen is so sweet, she drives her son all the way across the OC to put him in choir at a black church, so that he'll see people who look like him! AWESOME! They encouraged us as we are in the VERY BEGINNING stages in our adoption journey. I can't wait to see what the Lord will do. I have the feeling it is the beginning of a GREAT thing, a NEW thing. I can't wait to see how the Lord would redeem all that has happened for His WONDERFUL GLORY! Lord have your way! Amen! Alida w4
Thus says the Lord Who made a way through the sea, A path through the mighty waters. Remember not the former things, Neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing, Even now it is springing to light. Do you not perceive it? A way will I make in the wilderness And rivers in the desert! Isaiah 43:16-19.
The Lord is getting ready to do A NEW thing. I am so excited. I signed up for this So Cal Haitian group that focused on Haiti and African adopted kids. I was invited to attend a function with people form neighboring churches in Orange county that had either already adopted, or were in the process of adopting. It was WONDERFUL! Can I share what I saw... I walked in and saw children from all ethnicities that had been placed in loving homes! This must be what heaven looks like. MANY joyful happy kids form all the colors of God's magnificent Earth! There was a gorgeous little Indian looking girl, I just missed meeting the Ethiopian child. Plenty of black children, Caucasian and mixed. It was so neat! I feel in LOVE with a beautiful little brown skinned curly headed girl that was just gorgeous. Her sweet German father told me that she was a safe haven baby Safe Haven ( http://www.babysafe.ca.gov/ ) I rejoiced to see this beautiful child alive and thriving. Her mother chose LIFE for her. In this day and age of convenience and moral relativism a mother thought it wise to give her child a future PRAISE GOD! She seemed to like me and I asked if her if I could take her home, she said yes! hehehe I reminded myself not to covet and that she already HAD a loving home.
I got to meet two families that are adopting from Haiti that I clicked with. One gal, Angela http://www.makefunofyourday.blogspot.com/ already has three children and wasn't even looking to adopt when God called her to it. God told her to adopt this little girl that has some medical issues. He later told her to ask about her siblings, that the orphanage didn't even know about. Later the birth mother gave birth to another child, a little boy. Some friends that visited the orphanage mentioned that they saw the birth mother of her adopted kids and that she had a baby, and asked if she was interested. She called the orphanage to ask about the baby. the pastor asked her "how did you find to about the baby? " He told her that the birth mother had come to him asking if Angela would be willing to adopt the baby as she is already adopting the siblings. the director said that the didn't want to ask her or she might feel pressured to take that child as well. Instead he told her that he would PRAY that if it was God's will for the baby boy to be adopted by that family, that SOME ONE OTHER THAN HIM would tell them about the baby! AND GOD DID IT! ( isn't He good like that!)
Finally a friend mentioned to Angela about three teens that were about to become too old to be adopted into a loving home and if she would pray for them. She said she would ONLY pray for them as she wasn't looking to adopt a teen. As she prayed for the three teens God spoke to her heart that one of them was her son! She obeyed and went and visited all the children and love EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM! Isn't God good. We both cried at her telling of the story!
The other family http://www.bringingkeananhome.blogspot.com/ I met adopted a cute little African American boy a little younger than my boys. She has a little toddler girl (bio) and is adopting another toddler named Keenan from Haiti. Her hubby spoke passionately that if the adoption was going to take 18 months (as that seems to be how long adoptions are taking for Haiti these days if not LONGER) that he'd move the whole family there and live in Haiti because THAT IS HIS SON! Wow. I was totally inspired!!!! What a sweet wonderful family. Kristen is so sweet, she drives her son all the way across the OC to put him in choir at a black church, so that he'll see people who look like him! AWESOME! They encouraged us as we are in the VERY BEGINNING stages in our adoption journey. I can't wait to see what the Lord will do. I have the feeling it is the beginning of a GREAT thing, a NEW thing. I can't wait to see how the Lord would redeem all that has happened for His WONDERFUL GLORY! Lord have your way! Amen! Alida w4
Thus says the Lord Who made a way through the sea, A path through the mighty waters. Remember not the former things, Neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing, Even now it is springing to light. Do you not perceive it? A way will I make in the wilderness And rivers in the desert! Isaiah 43:16-19.
Atheism-Pull the Plug
Unless someone care's
Our Mighty Arrows
