Well

I realized that I haven't posted much, lately.........not much to post.

I've had to resend my financial for the 4th (hopefully final) time, I'm waiting on my passports because I have to send in a color copy of each.

My homestudy agency had to resend my neglect forms to Frankfort....in the rush to get her precious baby, my worker forgot :) *side note* H H is safe at home with her brother and parents. Praise be to God.

It is slow and frustrating at times. I've come to the conclusion that I will be making 2 trips. Short of a miracle (we aren't ruling that out), B and I will make the first trip (court) together and then I'll be going back in 6 wks. to pick up little man. On one hand, what an honor and privilege it will be to see that beautiful country twice. I get to "get the feel of it" first trip and then enjoy the second trip. The sad part, is that I get to meet, love on and adore my baby and then I have to give him back. Heart wrenching. It'll be okay. I'll be okay. It'll be okay :)

Still working on grants, but I can't get my grant stuff finished because I don't have a copy of my homestudy. That is kind of crucial. Fundraising has gone, okay, but it will be much better when I get my matching grant :)

God is good, He is faithful. He loves Jude more than I do and He has His hand of protection over him. Thank you, Lord for your constant provisions!

So Much..

My heart still aches for Kenzie, girl! She is doing well, she is so brave and I'm so proud of how well she has handled all this blech that has been bestowed on her. Her parents, Casey * Steve and the boys..........what an inspiration of devotion and love. They are all in my prayers. Her current prayer needs are for her UTI, she is being fitted for her wheelchair, her depression. My heart goes out to this family and I'm asking all those who stumble onto this blog to please lift them up.

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As for little man...he and I are still waiting. I'm excited for the addition of my new nephew, soon (hopefully) he will be home. It will be such a joy to know that he will be at his forever home. I will, however, be still waiting and wanting to make that trek to pick up Jude. It will happen, in God's time. I have to keep telling myself that. Nothing that has happened, over the last week, is a surprise to God. It is just another refining process for me and my husband. I won't lie and say that we are tired of being refined, but this can't be pushed, it can't be controlled (by me) it is all happening on His time table, not mine. Jude is there, he will be protected, I hope that he knows that his mommy and daddy are praying for him and we want him and he is *so* loved.

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Current prayers: safe travel to N-ville for our fingerprinting, our passports to come in, we are lacking about $700 to make the $8000 for the referral, our homestudy to be finished and mailed to us and the other agencies ASAP, for our child abuse check to come back quickly and for it to soar on the wings of eagles to Ethiopia.

Serenity Needed

Ugh

Frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's the only word to sum up how this is going............I'm *so* ready to hold my baby..................

Prayers for a Pretty Pretty Girl!

After becoming suddenly paralyzed from the waist down, Mackenzie was taken to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville on 4-15-10. The doctors there have given her a diagnosis of Transverse Myelitis. This is a very rare disorder. This page is so friends can share their love, prayers, and support for Mackenzie and her family. Will provide updates as well when they are available. Mackenzie is a very precious, sweet, and outgoing little girl that brings joy to everyone that knows her!


Please lift this family up as the face the daily challenges of relearning what most of us take for granted, everyday. Love and prayers to my sweet friends!

Fundraisers

M & M's - Eat these goodies and then replace the goodies with your coins. I believe it holds around $20 in quarters. if you'd like a tube of M&M's, please email me and let me know. I'll be happy to drop them off at your house!

147 Million Orphans Gear - go to http://147millionorphans.com and search through all their great products. When you decide what you want, send me an email and a check. I will send it off, for you and $10 goes directly to our cause. In addition to helping us out, 1/2 the money goes towards feeding the children of the Amazima in Uganda! How cool is that. With one purchase, you can help save a child and feed a child. Remember that I need to place the order in order to receive the $10.

Yard Sale - if you have any "stuff" that you'd like to be rid of....send it my way! We are going to either participate in the city wide yard sale on May 1, in Murray OR we will be having a yard sale at our house. All money goes towards bringing our son home.

For Sale - 1993 Ford F350 Crew Cab; Ellyptical Machine (rarely used); Ab Lounge XL (never used); Punching Bag

If you are interested in any of these items, please email me at bart.brandi@mchsi.com.

If any checks are written, please write them to Starfish Orphan Ministry and remember to NOT put our names on the check, just add a note stating that you want it to go into our account. All donations are tax deductible. All money in the Starfish account will be matched, dollar for dollar by Lifesong.

Yippee!

My dossier was lovingly handed to my sister, who hand delivered it to our agency! Dossier is DONE DONE DONE!

We applied for our passports and apparently, just in time to get the lower fee...it goes up on Friday!

We got *great* news on Saturday from my sis...my boys gonna have a close friend in the family :) :) Yeehaw!

I may not be able to save the world, but I can certainly change the lives of one God blesses me with.

If you have * any* questions on adoption (international, domestic or foster care) PLEASE email me and ask me anything. If I can't help, sis can and if she can't help, we'll find someone who can. Adoption isn't for everyone, I realize that, but you can still sponsor a child to give them a better life. Please prayerfully consider how you might help one of God's children.

Stepping out on faith...

So, today, I put our truck, some exercise equipment and a ton of movies on sale in the vci classifieds!

Praying they sell! Whatever sells, will go directly towards our adoption!

God is in control...He is holding my hand throughout this all and more importantly, He is holding my son in His arms. How awesome is that????????!!!!!!!

Emmaus

It's springtime, therefore the Emmaus community is in full swing. I'm so excited to see how God is going to work in the lives of all 77 men on Walk #100! B is a table leader, job that he's never done before. He is in charge of sparking conversation on the topic at hand. He isn't much of a talker :) He is a handsome fella, though!

I'll miss him terribly! I tried to get him to break the rules and take his cellphone and he wasn't having any part of that LOL. I can't see or speak to him until Sunday! Pray for my sanity, as well as, the safety of my children. LOL I pray blessings, healing and unconditional agape love on the workers and the pilgrims!

De Colores!

Ha

As He continues to look down at me and snicker....all the "little" things that have come up, are just that...little. He has graciously taken care of everything again.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

God's sense of humor

Not so funny, sometimes..........

I've trying to send off this blasted dossier for a week or so and every time I think I'm ready to mail it off, something happens...vomit, mistakes in emails, someone not answering their phones (health insurance people), being on the phone for hours waiting for a live person (IRS)......today, it is extra paperwork.

Breathe.

I think I have all that I need, just need B to sign the papers and have them notarized (again), make copies, drop off my passport information, not cry and remember that this too shall pass.

Maybe I'll laugh, someday about this, just not today or tomorrow.

Trying Hard

I just figured out how to do different colors LOL....I'm a little slow on the uptake today!

I got word that there would be some additional paperwork that needs to be notarized (blech) and sent with my dossier. It isn't atrocious paperwork, like I've been doing, but still, I'm ready for this thing to be out of my hands, into the hands of my agency and sent to Ethiopia BEFORE MAY 7th! Luckily (not luck, but Godly), I was able to put my hands right on the paperwork that I need and my sister is sending me the stuff that I don't have so I can print it off and do all this rigor tomorrow (bank, notary, church, post office). It's all okay because as I'm sweating in inappropriate places LOL, thumbing through more documents, double checking everything....this song In His Time was playing through my mind. I sang that song, in my hometown church when I was a child and here it is 20 years later, popping back up. How blessed am I to be a child of God and to know that all of these "delays" are part of His plan.

He loves me, He loves my son, but for some reason or the other, He has been putting up roadblocks in sending off my dossier. That is okay (remember to breathe)....He has His reasons and they are for good and not to harm. Praise be to Him

Remember when you are trying to do something and wanting to do it now now now, it is ALL in His time. Off to blow my nose and wipe my sweat.........again. Love spring :)

In His Time

In His Time

Ecclesiastes 3:11
"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:"

In His time, in His time,
He makes all thing beautiful in His time.
Lord, my life to You I bring,
May each song I have to sing,
Be to You a lovely thing, in Your time.

In Your time, in Your time,
You make all thing beautiful in Your time.
Lord, my life to You I bring,
May each song I have to sing,
Be to You a lovely thing, in Your time.

Hallelujah and Praise the Lord

Tater Day is OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm burnt, tired and my house smells of stinky feet and sweat BLECH.

We did far better than I had anticipated. I also got word that our M&M fundraiser is making quite the dollar :) :)

We also had our first donation from a wonderful, Godly woman AND we got our dates to be fingerprinted. While we are there, to kill 2 birds with one stone...B and I will be getting our shots.

God is moving moving moving and it is so awesome to see His mighty hands all over this!

Thank you all

For the prayers and words of encouragement. I've gotten random emails, phone calls and face to face visits from some beautiful people.

Please know, that in all things, it isn't B or me that is doing this, we are simply being obedient to the call that God has made for us. We are doing the legwork (and paperwork) and He is orchestrating this beautiful gift.

We are blessed with the 7 children that we have raised. We love each and every one of them and we are beyond thrilled that God is preparing our son for his forever home. I'm blessed. God is good. He is in control, even when I'm searching for paperwork or feeling frazzled (today is one of those days). His hands are all over this and I'm thrilled to be able to share our story and through God, have them answer his call to take care of the orphans of the world.

There are 147 million orphans and soon, that number will be reduced by 1! Praise Him!

Day 1 of Tater Day

****I'm whooped****

Praising God for the money that was made!