(in)spired

Hey friends! I just want to let you know about a great offer from Dayspring Cards. I received a set of 10  free cards, just for agreeing to do a review on my blog. Really, there is nothing more to it!

The cards are high quality and are a mix of beautiful and cute. It was wonderful to have them on hand during our month of birthdays in September! Here's one that you might like to give to a little friend:



There are new items to choose from every month. This month Dayspring is offering your choice of four different recordable books..so cute and great for grandparents, etc. Check them out here, and have fun!

A double celebration

We had a party-weekend at our house! Fun, fun, fun!
(Except the part where Rosemary ate about a cup-and-a-half of m-n-m's and we had to take her to the doggy E.R. in the middle of the night. That part wasn't so fun.)

But she's okay now, so back to the fun parts...

First of all, my fabulous hubby turned 41.

Wow! I love this guy!

We started out the celebration with presents and hugs.

Then, after church my nephew, Cole, came to our house. He and David share the same birthday, but we don't usually get to celebrate with Cole, so this year was extra-special. The kids all adore Cole and he's so kind to them.

Our friends, David and Bryan, came over, as well, and we all played street hockey.

(Okay, Grace and I didn't play, but somebody had to take picutres and provide snacks.)

After hockey and snacks, we enjoyed a rousing game of charades. Can you believe that this was the first time that Cole has ever played charades?! 

After dinner, we sat outside and roasted marshmallows.

S'mores were a hit.

Happy Birthday, David and Cole!

We love you both so much!

Lily wrote a poem in honor of David's birthday, so I'll end with this:

A Poem for Dad

By, Lily  

I’m sure I have the best dad of all.

If you didn’t know, He likes to play ball.

He loves God with all his heart, soul and mind,

A better father I don’t think you could find!

When I feel sad,

he makes me feel glad.

He loves nature, and I’m sure it loves him!

He’s so gentle with God’s creatures. Sin is just not for him!

Maple and Rosy, they love daddy too.

Everybody takes him as a father, they do!

If you cannot see, I love my daddy.

God sure had a plan, when he gave him to our family!

adoption-related this 'n that

Okay, I know that I keep asking for prayer regarding R.'s adoption. And I keep really thinking that we'll have an answer soon! But, here's the latest:

-The Joint Council is in Ind*a and they are helping to iron out Ind*a's new stance on special needs adoptions. Please pray that the decisions they make will be favorable for children and families.
-Ind*a has said that they will make these decisions by September 30, and will start implementing them and accepting dossiers again in October. Pray that they stick to these dates.
-We REALLY should be hearing something specific regarding R. sometime in the next couple of weeks. I know that I keep saying this, but I do believe that it has to be soon (please God!). My faith was a little low last week, but our faithful Father has given me a new burst of faith this week! He is so good!
-We have an INS fingerprint date! It's on October 7.  We've got quite a bit of what we need for our dossier, so as soon as we get INS approval we should be able to send everything over.
-This morning we received an email with the picture of probably the cutest little boy in China and I asked hubby if we could adopt two (hehehe...just checking if you're still reading!). Seriously though, if you're thinking of adopting a 7 year old boy, this child is a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e. I'd so LOVE one more boy, but I'm thinkin' that I might have to be satisfied with a grandson one day.
-Please pray for Joshua who will soon be home with his family. He has a very serious heart issue and will actually be going straight to the hospital when he arrives in the U.S. So scary, I'm sure, for this little guy. Pray that God would give him strength, health and peace. Pray for his new family, as well.
-The sweet girls in my class have decided that they want to be Christmas Warriors for one of the little ones on the Reece's Rainbow site. Be looking for that button on my blog in a month or so! Maybe you'd like to be a Christmas Warrior for a darling child, as well (or maybe you'd like to adopt one of them!).

Thanks so much for your prayers, faithful friends. Our God is more than able to do all that we ask in His name!

one, two, three...eleven?!

one

 two

 three

 eleven...?!

Where did the time go, my beautiful baby girl?!

Eleven years old and becoming such a young lady.

You have grown and matured so much in the past year.

You're no longer a little girl, but would you still be my baby...sometimes?

Sweet Lily, I am in awe of the person whom God has made you to be.

You love with abaondon.

You are bold and courageous.

You have a strong sense of justice. You defend, protect and care for those who are hurting.

You are graceful and creative.

Lily, you are beautiful, inside and out.

Happy 11th Birthday, my precious daughter.

I love you with all that I am!

Oh my goodness gracious...

could it really have been 13 years ago tonight

that your daddy and I were walking down 38th Avenue,

hoping that you would be born?

It was 3 am, and not a very friendly neighborhood,

but we didn't care because we so badly wanted to meet you. 

And then, there you were

(not on 38th avenue, but in the hospital a few hours later),

precious and small

and perfect in every way.

Oh how we loved our new little boy.

Adam, you have been a delight to your dad and I since the day you were born.

We were so inexperienced,

but you made it easy on us.

Even as a little boy, you were sweet and kind and cared about others more than yourself.

I remember the one time that you pushed another child.

I sat you up on the counter, looked into your teary eyes, and told you that you could never do that again.

And you never did.

As you've grown, your dad and I have been so grateful for how you value people, rather than things.

I love the way that you love...

so fully and so generously.

You always see the best in others and love them for who they are.

From the time that you were three years old until you were ten, I prayed a special prayer for you every single night.
I prayed that you would know God in ways that I could not even think or imagine.

When you were ten, that prayer was answered.

God met you in a special way at that time in your life. You began to have a depth of love for God that even at age 30 (when I began praying that prayer), I couldn't have imagined possible.

Your love for God has grown even more since that time.

It is a joy to see you worship.

I love to see how you give yourself to God in prayer.

I love to hear how God speaks to you.

All of these things are a delight to my soul.

Adam, it is so much fun to be with you.

You get your serious side from both your dad and me.

But, dad has a little bit of craziness wrapped up in all of that seriousness.

And I'm glad that you have that same fun-loving spirit.

(I think that your brother is glad about that too!!!)

Adam, I know that you never look for praise from people.

You don't want to be noticed for the things that you do.

But, I can't help but thank God for the sort of young man that you are becoming.

You are a gift, my precious son.

Happy 13th Birthday, Adam.

We love you...

to the moon and back.

Jesus, King of Glory

HE is our reason to dance!

our King...defender of the weak

Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
Rescue the weak and needy;
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.
Psalm 82:3-4

Do you know that our God is a just ruler..a righteous and beautiful King?! In Psalm 82, God commands the unjust rulers to stop showing partiality to the wicked and to defend the cause of the poor and fatherless. The widow, the orphan and the outcast are constantly on our King's heart. He is not a far-off ruler. He is a King who loves and protects His precious people.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been experiencing the fire of our King's heart. His heart burns to call leaders to righteousness. Rulers of nations are commanded to defend their people...especially the ones who cannot defend themselves. I've been praying these verses in Psalm 82...speaking justice and deliverance over the weak and commanding the rulers of this world to defend His precious ones. I know that our King is listening, and I know that His heart is overcome with love for the widow, the orphan and the oppressed. He will rescue them! He is so good!

Would you pray these verses along with me? Would you ask our King to act quickly on behalf of the weak and needy? Would you speak these verses out as a command to those who do not represent our generous and righteous King?

Oh King Jesus, defender of the weak, we love You! We love Your ways! We are so grateful that you are a righteous and generous King. Deliver Your People, oh Lord. Rescue Your needy ones. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. Bring justice and peace to your precious children.

where oh where...?

is some news of our girl?!

(we are so ready!)

I guess that's one way...

to get your feet clean.

Oh, my sweet Yana, you are too silly!

incredible

The movie, Emmanuel's Gift, is i.n.c.r.e.d.i.b.l.e. You've got to see it.



And please keep praying for our own incredible little gift (sweet R.). May God bring us one step closer together this week!

adoption news...

Precious friends, I'm asking for your prayers once again.



We heard from our agency this week. They told us that we should be hearing from Ind*a next week (insert big cheer here)! Please, please, please pray for a YES for our family to adopt R.! Please also pray for the other children and families who are waiting to be united to one another.

Ind*a is in the process of changing many rules in their adoption procedures. Please pray that these new rules would benefit children and families. Pray that more children would be able to get home quickly. Pray, in particular, that the state in which R. lives, would be more open to adoptions and that many more children would find their forever families.

Our beautiful, precious Father loves to answer prayers such as these. He loves these children more than I could ever even think or imagine.

Dear Father, show Yourself strong on behalf of the orphans of Ind*a. May Your compassion overwhelm us! May we see Your love in the way that these children are cared for by Your precious hand. We love You, Father, and completely trust in Your goodness and mercy in the lives of these little ones.

she's really movin' now...

Sweet Grace learned to ride her bike without training wheels last week!

And that's pretty much what she's been doing for every waking hour since then.

Don't know if I've ever seen a cuter little biker...

(the announcer is pretty sweet, as well)

She's really movin' now!

You go girl!