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| Saturday, March 31, 2007 |
| New Referrals |
One year ago today we received new referrals after losing our first ones. This is the picture we received. I haven't shared it before. We called it the Holocaust picture. The bwins looked so scared, so lost, and so alone. If you look closely, you will see a small tube coming from L's nose and taped to his cheek. This is what set us off that he had medical issues. We were also given two single boys to consider, both in the younger (2-3 year old) age range and healthy. Our decision time was here. Lots of prayer followed. God led us to our sons.
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posted by 6blessings @ 4:48 AM  |
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| Thursday, March 29, 2007 |
| Dishwasher Doors |
Everyone has done it that owns a dishwasher. Still, it doesn't help the pain tolerance level.
One duty that my children have around the house is to unload the dishwasher daily, sometimes two times a day around our house. El and L mostly do the silverware. (Fair warning: Check the silverware before using it if you come to my house to eat. :-) ) Anyway, everyone else was done with their part of the dishwasher, except El. He was finishing up his silverware. To put it away, they pull a chair up to the drawer and unload the silverware container.
I had gone to the attic in the schoolroom to get down Easter decorations. I know I'm a little late getting them up since it is only a week away. Oh well, I knew it would bring curiosity from the bwins, having never participated in this holiday before.
I was carrying a big box quickly, almost running, into the kitchen because the bottom was busting out, when BAM!! BAM!! Yes, that was the sound of my two shins whacking the open dishwasher door at high speed. The scream afterwards was just as loud and the contents of the box were scattered all over the kitchen floor. You see, El had finished his silverware duty and had put his container back in the dishwasher. However, he had failed to close it up, or push in the silverware drawer, or put up the chair he had used to put the silverware away.
My shins now have 2 bright shiners on them, just in time for those spring capris and Easter! |
| posted by 6blessings @ 6:57 AM |
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| Wednesday, March 28, 2007 |
| Maura Grace |
One of my very dear friend's brother and his wife had a baby a few months ago. She was premature. They thought that she was doing well for a short time, then realized something was very wrong. Her name is Maura Grace. Her story can be found here: www.caringbridge.org/visit/mauragrace .
Please pray for their family. |
| posted by 6blessings @ 10:14 AM |
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| Monday, March 26, 2007 |
| Daddy's Little Helper |
We have many pine trees in our yard. Being springtime, it is time to start mowing. However, before the first mow each year we face the undaunting task of cleaning up the yard from all of the pine needles that have fallen. D rakes them up and then bags them. The task, as you can imagine is huge. This year he had some extra helpers, but one in particular has proven to be a very hard worker and totally enthralled with his daddy.
El loves to be by his daddy's side doing whatever he is doing. I was working on my flower garden and D was working on pine needles when I caught this scene. Every move Daddy made, El had to follow suit. When Daddy was raking, El was raking. If Daddy took a rest, El took a rest. They worked in tandum- D with his big rake, El with his plastic one.
El didn't know I was watching him when I took these pics. During my observation, D had stopped for a moment and leaned over on his rake. El, of course, stopped and propped his rake just right so he could lean on his also. He looked carefully at D several times to make sure he had it just right. Then when D resumed raking, so did El.
It is such a blessing to see these little guys with their daddy. We have no information on their Russian father, not even a name, other than their patronymic, Ivanovich. In the mother's termination papers from court, she argues and speculates about who the father might be. It's no big deal to me... I know exactly who their Daddy is, the greatest Daddy in the world to them! |
| posted by 6blessings @ 8:35 PM |
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| Thursday, March 22, 2007 |
| Blessings Overflowing |
As I metioned, what a difference a year makes! A year ago we were suddenly referral-less. We were deeply hurt and in pain and completely broke! We actually didn't have the money to even go on trip one.
As you may remember, God called us to adopt and we had no resources. We were an average family living month to month. We didn't hurt, but we were tight. There was definitely no extra sitting around for extra groceries or any new clothes, much less an international adoption. When we first heard the price tag for adoption we immediately said, "No way, impossible." Then God worked on our hearts, promising He'd take care of us if we would just follow and be obedient.
We sold everything we had, except a miniscule piece of stock, to go on trip one. Now we were completely wiped out, all savings, all everything, plus we had added credit card charges. We had a small garage sale and the Shaohannah's Hope grant between trip one and two. Obviously, we were still greatly in debt. We borrowed some money and took the rest out on credit cards to go on trip two. Still, we trusted. God had promised, and He always keeps His promises.
Many people thought we were crazy. Many amongst Christian circles thought we were unbiblical to be going into debt. Some even doubted our calling. We just felt we had to be obedient, no matter the cost.
Here are the results! In November, right before Thanksgiving, the miniscule piece of stock(extremely small, so small it wasn't even messed with when we were selling everything else) that we had not sold back in April had made back more than we had sold, borrowed, and taken out on credit for trip one!
In February, we were extremely blessed with some income. We went to pay off the adoption debt. Much of it was forgiven to us(thank you so much). The rest was paid off in full, including all credit cards!
But that's not the end! We were also able to pay off several other debts, including vehicles, D's business loans that we used to start his business, doctor bills, and several others. I was able to have well-child check-ups and dental visits for everyone(that's a big deal with an 8 member family). H was due for braces and we were able to pay for them completely in full (she gets them Monday). We put a privacy fence around our property. My father-in-law is on his way over to build a treehouse/swingset for the kids. To top it all off, my dh took me furniture shopping for the first time since we got married almost 16 years ago. We got new living room and bedroom furniture that is being delivered today. (Some friends of ours are in the process of adopting a little girl from China and are having a garage sale. My husband donated all of our furniture to help them. Thus, we needed some new things and were able to get them.)
The blessings just keep pouring in one after the other. Not all of them are material blessings either, many are things you can't touch. For example, Hope Ministry, which was started shortly after we came home, has taken off like wildfire and is being blessed every day. We're getting ready for a huge adoption/foster care symposium in May with 12 different speakers and a professional musician. My children are adjusting so well and we're seeing a difference in their actions and reactions. All 6 of my kids are healthy and thriving. Our faith is continuing to grow and our relationship with God is becoming closer all of the time.
I have been seeing all of these things unfolding and really felt as if I was to testify to His greatness and His goodness. I want Him to get all of the glory for what He has done. He truly is a miracle worker! He holds fast to His word. His blessings are far more than I could ever imagine.
His Word says it best:
Epesians 3:20-21
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." |
| posted by 6blessings @ 6:36 AM |
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| Saturday, March 17, 2007 |
| Whys, How Comes, and Answers |
Today marks one year since we received the news that our first referrals were taken home by their grandmother. What a difference a year makes!! Those boys will always be near and dear to our hearts. We loved them for six months, had bought clothes and toys for them, prayed for them, and were two weeks from meeting them when we lost them. We were devastated to say the least.
Why am I telling this story? Because many of you out there are still waiting, many wonder what your adoption future holds, many have been through pain similar to ours, maybe you are going through it right now, many worry about it happening to you. I just want to encourage you that you will survive. The pain is always present, but truly there is a reason for everything. With El and L home now, I can't imagine anything else. We don't always know the whys or how comes, but with faith and trust in God and His supreme plan, things work out for the good.
Hindsight is always better. We now know that El and L would never have been found if we hadn't lost twin boys. Our agency seemed to think that's what we wanted. The boys were in the databank but not on the major lists. They had to verify their availability.
I truly believe God led us to the 2 year old twins for two major reasons. First, they needed to be reunited with their family. This wouldn't have happened if we didn't pursue their adoption and pray for them a forever family every day. Secondly, the two year old bwins led us the 5 year old bwins. God knew His plans for us and for all 4 boys. Our decision to adopt and to move forward after loss brought 4 boys out of orphanages and into homes and only proved to strengthen our faith.
I still pray for and remember our first bwins. My arms ache to hold them at times. My kids still have their pictures in their rooms and I still have their pictures in my Bible. We consider them a forever part of us. However, a year later, His divine plan is much clearer. We will always love those boys and we are so grateful to them for leading us to our forever sons.
I have a craft project sitting on my kitchen windowsill that my kids made in a preschool class at church. It sums it up very nicely. It is a small frame with a puzzle piece in the center. By the puzzle piece it says, "I see only a piece of the puzzle, God sees the whole picture."
Hang in there all of you that don't see the end of the tunnel or can't see where you are going. Grab hold of God's hand and let Him lead you. From one who has been through some of your pain, He truly knows best! |
| posted by 6blessings @ 2:26 PM |
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| Tuesday, March 13, 2007 |
| Self-imposed haircuts |
A few years ago, my dad had surgery. I went up to be with my mom and him. While I was gone, I got a phone call from D saying that something had happened. Z had found some scissors and had given not only herself a haircut, but had also given J one. Two haircuts later we evened things out. J had to be buzzed off.
Well, I was gone again this last weekend to a gymnastics competition in Texas. When I arrived home, I found out that L had given himself a haircut, right to the scalp on the very front. Of course, he knew he was in trouble and so he told D that El had done it to him. Ugh! D took him in to buzz him off. He tried going around it to even things out, but it was impossible. He had to totally shave him. Then he told El it was his turn. I asked why El's had to be shaved too and he just replied, "They're twins." Anyway, we found a pretty good sized scar on El's head when we shaved it. There is no hair growth there. El has no memory of what happened. I guess some mysteries will always remain just that.
Here's the boys sporting their new buzzes. I think it makes them look more alike and really brings out their eyes! I think I'll remove all scissors from the house the next time I take a trip for a few days. :-)
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| posted by 6blessings @ 12:40 PM |
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| Monday, March 12, 2007 |
| Shirts |
I promised a picture of the girls' shirts. I still cannot find our battery charger so I used H's camera. We went to Texas for a competition this weekend (later post when I have more time) and they wore these shirts. They got some great looks. Of course, no one believes that I didn't persuade them to buy them. It's true though. They did it all on their own!
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| posted by 6blessings @ 7:13 AM |
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| Thursday, March 08, 2007 |
| Tasty Pink Sugar |
A little over a week ago, I posted about my parents taking the boys to the circus. I mentioned that I was saving my favorite pictures until later. Well, here they are!
ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF A CIRCUS- COTTON CANDY!!! YUMMY!!!
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| posted by 6blessings @ 8:43 PM |
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| Tuesday, March 06, 2007 |
| 2007 Tour of Homes |
What do five children do in the afternoons after schoolwork is done and it's chilly outside? They make houses inside the house! My kids love to play house. They are constantly being mom, dad, baby, dog, etc. The boys especially like being dogs (BTW, that is what J gave up for Lent. :-) ). Anyway, on some days, they just casually play this throughout the house, but on Monday, they took it to the extreme! Each person built their own "house" in my living room. They brought in all kinds of things to decorate their houses. They strung blankets to separate them. They lined them with knickknacks, pillows, and other items. They were extremely creative. See for yourself. J's "home", simple yet neat, complete with computer, phone, and bed.  Z and L's "home": small, but cozy, a nice hideout. "Welcome" sign included.
 El's "home": full of pillows, chairs, a few decorations, and even includes a reading corner. E's "home": the roomiest, with padded bed, large friends for company, a dog, and many decorations.
It was great being invited into everyone's home. El was the most excited to have me come to his house. He showed it off with great pride, making me wait to see it until it was perfect.
To top it all off, I heard El tell E that if she got scared at night, she could come to his house and he would help her. Progress! (BTW, he had a tummy ache a few nights ago before going to bed. I told him if he needed me at night to come in. He did! For the first time in 7 1/2 months, one of the boys came into our room in the middle of the night!)
Well, I hope you enjoyed our "2007 Tour of Homes". |
| posted by 6blessings @ 8:38 PM |
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| Monday, March 05, 2007 |
| Weekending |
This past weekend, I spent at home! Whew!! That may not be a big statement to some, but it is around here. I had a great time.
On Friday night, I took off work and the family went to the WinterJam concert. It featured Steven Curtis Chapman, NewSong, Jeremy Camp, Hawk Nelson, Sanctus Real, Tony Nolan as a guest speaker and John Morgan as a President Bush impersonator. We had a great time. We went with 2 other families from our church that are a part of Hope Ministry and a friend that I hadn't seen since before we brought the boys home. One couple completed a domestic adoption 4 years ago and the other is waiting for their travelling papers to China. (Check out their website at www.kendalhope.com .) The concert was great, but even greater was their emphasis on orphans around the world. NewSong works in coordination with Holt to bring sponsors to orphans. They recently visited Chinese orphanages and shared a video they made. Of course, Steven Curtis Chapman is one of the biggest adoption/foster care advocates on the planet. He has a new video that his first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, made called "Hidden Treasure". It is incredible. She is on a search for hidden treasure and she finds it all over the world in the faces of children who need families. It is very touching. Here is a link to it:
http://www.myspace.com/showhope .
Saturday morning I took the gwins shopping. They have had birthday and Christmas money that is burning a hole in their pockets. We took some of it on a shopping spree. They each bought dresses for Easter and other things they wanted. Their coolest purchases were matching shirts- one says, "My Mom Rocks", the other says, "My Dad Rocks". BTW, they were not coerced into getting these. They did it on their own. They have been wanting to go shopping one on one with mom for some time. When asked Saturday morning who wanted to go first, they decided they wanted to go together- to help each other make fashion decisions of course!! They are truly best friends.
Saturday afternoon the gwins had a friend come to sleep over and go to church with us. We met a one of my friends Saturday night and went to a college gymnastics competition. They are always so fun for the girls to watch.
Sunday, we went to church and we went to our Sunday School class for the first time in three months (We teach 2 year old Sunday School 3 months on/ 3 months off). We came home and I was able to take my first complete nap in ages!! It was so nice. Then we went to our small groups that evening.
The weekend was refreshing. I will try and get a photo to post of the girls' shirts sometime. Right now I can't find my camera's battery charger and it is completely dead. I hope everyone else had a great weekend too. Well, I guess it's time to get off to the hustle and bustle the next few weeks contains! |
| posted by 6blessings @ 7:13 AM |
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