tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91923182470461995982024-02-07T18:35:30.965-08:00Blessed and Re-Blessedmom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-26155540891276079602011-12-11T12:52:00.000-08:002011-12-11T12:52:15.995-08:00Phillips Family Cleaning/Chore Charts!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally! I was able to figure out how to get my stinkin chore charts on here!! Will you be able to see them and use them? I have no idea. (heehee)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">These are the charts that I am currently using. I tweak them every once in awhile as children grow and needs change. For example, Ashlee works most Wednesdays, so I need to take her off the dog rotation. (Poor puppies!) And as the little ones get older and are able, they will also be added to the different charts.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">The different charts and details are all kept in a notebook in my kitchen (by my menu/recipes which is a whole different post). Each chart/details is put in a page protector and put in the notebook. A copy is also placed in each bathroom. I do not want my children to have any excuses when it comes to chores!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment. I am pretty sure I can answer you from there!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8tRf4L0fupjCdskA7rKSJCLVnCGcOeVNwTB6BRgkPScnV9rMupKJgsN8dBKE1ZPa2HbdwceoN7L5mQDV6jnkeL31DGcmC3Y_kvjaRVoU2hKBn7DH5aPE7zXj1oGFyBXhvv7kiIkpPMA/s1600/Phillips+Kitchen+Zone+Chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8tRf4L0fupjCdskA7rKSJCLVnCGcOeVNwTB6BRgkPScnV9rMupKJgsN8dBKE1ZPa2HbdwceoN7L5mQDV6jnkeL31DGcmC3Y_kvjaRVoU2hKBn7DH5aPE7zXj1oGFyBXhvv7kiIkpPMA/s320/Phillips+Kitchen+Zone+Chart.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMimZBjh0ZENE-rPjqNqSw8qPBF2Z7cmxo1bUogD2v8-hIHdoapzPpKwTmHCv5JGq2k7gWVVg2Ns_JkjIVhYZ6tSW5GrcQcgjS77MSDsFn1JMjZU8VjSkKkVHRHk0TkxD_lS-AUfEcGA/s1600/Phillips+Kitchen+Details.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMimZBjh0ZENE-rPjqNqSw8qPBF2Z7cmxo1bUogD2v8-hIHdoapzPpKwTmHCv5JGq2k7gWVVg2Ns_JkjIVhYZ6tSW5GrcQcgjS77MSDsFn1JMjZU8VjSkKkVHRHk0TkxD_lS-AUfEcGA/s320/Phillips+Kitchen+Details.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6vfkybMg687E-G4woKfqdfZAm0st-c48c4lJ2K98sXCJ8hln8kq475Rx9YnZMDpw98vYhWIypjRKgXP0jy719_VWFZACXaBFU3gStOLxhPEdzTn0J3Aj1uQkHQESSo7W79EWX8SWDZ0/s1600/Phillips+Laundry+Room+Chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6vfkybMg687E-G4woKfqdfZAm0st-c48c4lJ2K98sXCJ8hln8kq475Rx9YnZMDpw98vYhWIypjRKgXP0jy719_VWFZACXaBFU3gStOLxhPEdzTn0J3Aj1uQkHQESSo7W79EWX8SWDZ0/s320/Phillips+Laundry+Room+Chart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5KSZWuWGesDe-TQrv2EXTgNK9EbDljzuPVjs8WjgNlp9OMNg2CIQVW39QAo_J2AusySmy6NcWMdU8tWfT0NQlqErfX4aVnPvA5QD5Tu8acsIdDViiQOc3zDcD3W3hObjeM0S_tSXG_w/s1600/Phillips+Laundry+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5KSZWuWGesDe-TQrv2EXTgNK9EbDljzuPVjs8WjgNlp9OMNg2CIQVW39QAo_J2AusySmy6NcWMdU8tWfT0NQlqErfX4aVnPvA5QD5Tu8acsIdDViiQOc3zDcD3W3hObjeM0S_tSXG_w/s320/Phillips+Laundry+Room.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOJKZ7ZxswME1DJZvIw3la1VQ-dC6R2ZSfsOiW5D4EVpe9Ui8e_EYrXFR-NY1HYyahd_TFYOGLJgbnfqZVOievOFAr05H0TxTpBfaxK_m_Q0VO8wTboQ6lXau31PwYiwV74xSY4py4iY/s1600/Phillips+Deep+Cleaning+Chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOJKZ7ZxswME1DJZvIw3la1VQ-dC6R2ZSfsOiW5D4EVpe9Ui8e_EYrXFR-NY1HYyahd_TFYOGLJgbnfqZVOievOFAr05H0TxTpBfaxK_m_Q0VO8wTboQ6lXau31PwYiwV74xSY4py4iY/s320/Phillips+Deep+Cleaning+Chart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQ9zVLDmqV6WLM2K4AGDWkS5y296GZHKt6X6efZuUVsD4SN1lFMJCSsKNuEBP-CNL2b4F1HTgmLQZnAspMLlQC1hXg6gyy6B30CKONJjywccN3O2vSJZ6sXey0XQV_W9Ot3dCXF6jtIk/s1600/Phillips+Deep+Cleaning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQ9zVLDmqV6WLM2K4AGDWkS5y296GZHKt6X6efZuUVsD4SN1lFMJCSsKNuEBP-CNL2b4F1HTgmLQZnAspMLlQC1hXg6gyy6B30CKONJjywccN3O2vSJZ6sXey0XQV_W9Ot3dCXF6jtIk/s320/Phillips+Deep+Cleaning.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-54899678021015996612011-12-07T15:27:00.000-08:002011-12-07T15:27:13.647-08:00Cleaning Charts!!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For all of you looking for my cleaning charts, well, they aren't here! I am trying to figure out how to make them available for you to download. Please check back and if I can't get it to work, I'll email them to you if you email me or leave your email in my messages!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thanks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tracy</span>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-86904121398685219862011-10-30T15:26:00.001-07:002011-10-30T15:26:15.290-07:00Blessed Suckers...<span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I happen to be a part of a group of 7 sweet ladies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our meetings might look to some as chance encounters, but I believe we were brought together by a higher power. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve named ourselves the “Blessed Suckers”…blessed by the children, suckered in by DHS!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Within our group of 7, we have 31 children total.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>19 of those children were adopted through DHS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These ladies and I meet once a month for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been doing this faithfully for almost 5 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would guess we will continue to meet until we are so old we start dying off one by one.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">To be honest, I can’t really tell you exactly when we started meeting, or really even why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were just a group of foster mama’s who needed a place to get advice, talk freely about our cases, get support and wisdom from those who had already been there, and just be in a group of people who got it…no need to explain your weird behaviors or those darn eye twitches…they understood!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">5 years later, we have been through a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Divorce, death of a child, screaming addicted newborns, RAD preschoolers, new placements coming in, old placements leaving when they shouldn’t, workers lying to us, crazy, scary bio parents, births, grandchildren, stressful court dates, uncontrollable <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>longings when we here of babies in the shelters, little ones getting kicked out of school for their behaviors, adoptions, therapies (name your poison and we’ve been through them), new diagnoses, old diagnoses that are now new again, tears, sorrow, unspeakable grief, unspeakable joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Out of the 19 adopted children, all but 3 of them were drug affected/addicted in the womb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of those was shaken so hard she suffers permanent brain damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of those is too young at the moment…her issues haven’t begun to surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the moment, there are only 3 of these adopted children who are not either starting or currently undergoing therapies of some sort just so they can cope with their environments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Recently, we have begun to notice the similarities of the behaviors in our children and have been extremely stressed out as how to go about helping our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would God give us these babies who are so hurt?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What in the world are we supposed to do with them??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you read up on their diagnoses and see what the “normal” outcomes are for children with such issues, the future looks extremely grim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children with the behaviors that our kids are dealing with are highly likely to end up in prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">But you know what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My God is big.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is bigger than the effects of meth in the womb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is bigger than the baby born drunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is bigger than cocaine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is bigger than attachment disorders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is bigger than processing disorders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is bigger than sensory integration disorders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is bigger! <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The Bible tells me these things:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hebrews 6:9b-12</span></b><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “…We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For God is not unjust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love for Him by caring for other believers, as you still do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hebrews 6:17-18</span></b><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “God also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So God has given both His promise and His oath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hebrews 10:23</span></b><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We are praying for our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that God has great things in store for this group of children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that one day, more than one of these children will stand up and tell those who will listen about how God loved them so much that He sent HIS only Son to save them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How God made beauty from ashes…how He used their disabilities for His glory alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">You see, even though we are working hard to get these kids everything they need medically, therapeutically, etc, we are working even harder to lead them to the Cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without Jesus, what good will all the time spent in different therapies be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no healing apart from Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I am so thankful to be a part of this little group that God has formed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I go, here is a promise to our adopted children:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Adapted from a post by one of the suckers…)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Dear child,<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I make this promise to you, my babies/children, that when the effects of prenatal drug exposure comes calling, I will hold you close when you cannot handle loud noises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will hold you near and we will hold our hands over your ears together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise to pick you up and love on your boo-boos, even though you cannot feel them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When your separation anxiety gets the best of you, I promise to keep you close to me, even if that means we both miss our classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you scream because you cannot stand for your hair to be brushed, I will kiss your head and tickle you through it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you are frustrated because you want to read so badly, but your brain just has not learned how to process, I promise I will encourage you and one day you will read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you cannot sit in a room with the lights on, I will turn them off for you and we will sit together in the dark. When you cannot regulate your emotions and have a melt-down, I promise to never leave you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise that together, and by God’s grace, we will overcome each and every obstacle that you will face and I promise that you will succeed in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise not to cry when I watch you stand up and give your testimony and say “God chose this family for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This family showed me Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By His mercy and grace, here I stand before you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-25937385647501139052011-07-20T09:58:00.000-07:002011-07-20T09:58:23.917-07:00A Vision Revealed<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Jacob was about 6 months old, I had a vision. The vision was during the day, and I have no doubts that God gave me this vision. We knew that Jacob was headed toward adoption, but at that point, Patrick and I really hadn't made a decision as to what we were supposed to do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In this vision, I pictured a grown African American man, tall and thin, giving his testimony. I didn't hear the entire thing, but I knew it was a powerful testimonty that changed many lives. His testimony was that he had been born addicted to drugs and by the grace of God, he had been placed in a family that loved him and helped him heal. God was definately using the man in my vision for a greater purpose! I felt like that was God telling me that we would be adopting Jacob. And we did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you've followed my blog at all, you know that Jacob was never meant to stand up and give that testimony as an adult. Since his death, I have questioned this vision. What did it mean? Was it just so I would know we were supposed to adopt him? It just never felt right and I, being human, really needed to know how I could have misinterpreted this vision that was given to me so clearly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Fast forward about 4 years. In order to finish this story, I need to tell you the story of Aaron. Remember how I've been promising to tell you and then I never do?? You will understand soon enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Aaron was placed as a foster child in the home of my very good friend. She was in the process of closing her home and ended up feeling led to take this one last baby. Jacob had been gone for 4 months at the time and I remember her bringing him to my home so I could hold a baby. He was precious, but we were looking for Emma at that point. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Fast forward 10 months. We had lost Emma Claire to DHS a couple of months before my friend asked if we could keep this sweet baby for the weekend while they went to the lake. SURE! I remember taking this baby into Walmart with us and thinking "Wow, I feel complete for the first time since Jacob died." I shared this with her and that's when it started....she started praying. She prayed that God would change our hearts and we would find a place in our home for this child. I, on the other hand, was NOT praying in this way!!! I also had no idea for a long time that she had been praying this as well. Well, we kept him a few more times and our hearts were changing. He sure was hard not to love! We didn't get to bring Emma home, so maybe God was changing "my" plan? We got to know him more and more, prayed and prayed, and God changed our hearts. We were going to include this child in our family. It was settled. God had placed this baby with my friend just for us! I cannot tell you how grateful I will always be to her for following the Holy Spirit's lead.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And then we get a phone call. "Will you adopt Emma?" WOW! That's 2 babies to add to our home. That's a lot. Aaron and Emma are 8 months apart in age. Where will everyone sleep? Is our truck big enough? All those human questions...ugh! But, God gave us peace and we said yes to both of these babies.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And that is how Aaron was placed in our lives. As Noah said, "Mom, God took one of our blessing (Jacob) and gave us two more (Aaron and Emma)!" If God had allowed us to bring Emma home when WE thought we should have, we never would have said yes to Aaron.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Back to the vision. A week or so ago, I was thinking about Aaron and how he is the least affected by the drugs that he was exposed to in utero. Aaron's bio mom tried to kill herself and him 3 times toward the end of her pregnancy. I realized that God must have huge plans for this boy to protect him the way He did. And all of a sudden, it was like God slapped me across the face. My vision that I had assumed was Jacob, was Aaron! Praise God! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And that was why I couldn't share Aaron's story with you before now. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow!"</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNocjf6kJecsWKBisMeg3uxm6MZxuCK8CgsYAClxrF8TBtzpJBm9GxdrcFh_zg9rxaGrcpkdROgP8g8O1xHwswPU_OdfrzRaRVSO2REqQGy7oCdK7pB05mWwS41jbEBRpswVubFRNE6Gw/s1600/001+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNocjf6kJecsWKBisMeg3uxm6MZxuCK8CgsYAClxrF8TBtzpJBm9GxdrcFh_zg9rxaGrcpkdROgP8g8O1xHwswPU_OdfrzRaRVSO2REqQGy7oCdK7pB05mWwS41jbEBRpswVubFRNE6Gw/s320/001+%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This picture is the first time I had both my babies together.</div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-67989941527316530862011-07-20T09:25:00.000-07:002011-07-20T09:25:09.320-07:00This Mother's Day....<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel extremely blessed. For the first time in 6 years, our family is still. Let me explain.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In the Summer of 2005, Patrick and I started praying about our family and foster care. By the Spring of 2006, we had our first placement. Since then, we have had 3 placements that did not stay with us and 5 placements that we have adopted. We lost a child to a piece of furniture. We have been scrutinized, judged, lied about, treated with such utter disrespect by hospital staff, law enforcement, and DHS that I cannot even think about it...I try NOT to think about it. We have had failed adoption placements. We have dealt with the effects that drugs have on an infant and how those effects have followed these children into their childhoods. We have dealt with/are dealing with Reactive Attachement Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Effects, Sensory Disorders, Auditory Processing Disorders, I have gone to bed SO many nights asking God what He was doing with our family. Would we be keeping the children He placed in our home or should I prepare them to move? You promised us Emma, how do I get to her?? We have our Emma...wait, no, she's gone. Wait! She's back!! Aaron? Where did you come from?? You weren't in the plan AT. ALL. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">But here we are, in May of 2011, our family complete. We have our health, we have our home, we have jobs, we have family and friends. This mother's day, while I will never forget or stop missing the child I lost for a little while, I am at peace. Total peace. God has given us this time to rest in Him. I have no idea how long this time will last, probably not long considering I have a daughter who will start driving in October and that almost ALWAYS leads to graduation, marriage, grandchildren, etc!! So, again, I will enjoy the peace while I have it!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ephesians 2:10 says, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;">God...I'm ready to do the good things You planned for me long ago!</span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div></span><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-11008352399214232172011-05-02T20:16:00.001-07:002011-05-02T20:16:56.441-07:00I just walked into the other room to get something...<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and here we are, eight months later! I swear they wrote the book "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" after me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have no idea where we left off, so I'll probably just ramble a little...you know...until I get the hang of this blogging stuff again! I did discover that you can merge two blogs! How exciting that was for me since I no longer have to keep my old blog a secret!!! So, now if you read something about Jacob or anything else that has happened since I started this little blog, you can look it up!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And here is the reason we had to go private for awhile:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVBGQ62g45wLsk-MLMDSDJ4vUWikVt6_wyp20wx6uMW8Y6FP6pUSvQVmX9pOQvbKBgqHoJS4vMSJ3qhYHvkunO4rYCzE6wY0jg0jdubzhpW3m7gzOMnGiRRZUaQKvUwOl-z6IZWtOXfc/s1600/Easter+Sunday+2011+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVBGQ62g45wLsk-MLMDSDJ4vUWikVt6_wyp20wx6uMW8Y6FP6pUSvQVmX9pOQvbKBgqHoJS4vMSJ3qhYHvkunO4rYCzE6wY0jg0jdubzhpW3m7gzOMnGiRRZUaQKvUwOl-z6IZWtOXfc/s320/Easter+Sunday+2011+087.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div>This is our newest and final addition to our family! Aaron Jones is our 2 1/2 year old bundle of boy!! He has been with us for awhile, and I will share his story soon. God orchestrated this boy's placement in our home. First of all, he's a boy. Secondly, he's a boy! A boy in need of a home. So thankful God chose our home for him! Emma loves her "Eh-non"!<br />
<br />
We just finished a week's worth of homeschool convention...WOW! SO much work and we are SO tired, but it is SO worth it to see all the homeschooling families and how they are blessed by the convention. We had 6000+ people come through the two conventions, one here in OKC and one in Tulsa. We made new friends and laughed with old friends. I am so amazed at how God chooses to bring people into your life that bless and encourage. <br />
<br />
That's all I have...I'm in convention recovery this week!! I'll leave you with one of my new favorite pictures:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L6o5tfNGP9bHPlMSXL7yW37WwCjgTLFj_cYQt-EYSARngof7evsUMBh1QGs7VXWoFAne69gUbaNEgki7LQWtLGRJkAWF9JsOjUqw1zQlsbt-RfwjCXVz3EUhn_TUfAHAWTOcoPevO9Q/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L6o5tfNGP9bHPlMSXL7yW37WwCjgTLFj_cYQt-EYSARngof7evsUMBh1QGs7VXWoFAne69gUbaNEgki7LQWtLGRJkAWF9JsOjUqw1zQlsbt-RfwjCXVz3EUhn_TUfAHAWTOcoPevO9Q/s320/005.JPG" width="239px" /></a></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-34583781073021793942010-09-01T20:07:00.000-07:002010-09-01T20:07:47.993-07:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJG8tG0zkXAMVGwDZfnc4gaxa09ryil19h8ixOXLHfB0dpYrssMt-6liupzBBTiaNlpLwGps20A5c4xkTvWzzjUzt7D4jOzwhoisDOAbTFgap93HgcnF6iUiFs2TFgpfihJQqrMnV9YU/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQal8omWC7uzAmlTdCbHKLc721SWY1oxfdKUoO7QNqEIYiobJMNaFLxuvUp93DvMaGPESDmJ0q4QeGFt24W464gZEmJUIDz2ZG42-7IeZjTW-O-4Q5VsnCh0HvngUMum-8P9eIWctTMb4/s320/184.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS_4cgwx8DUCozFmZBPbaCgcfj5osTHqYXPKvqrA08zccRObpPZId1aAH3kPSHQ9IN9T3A69Bd1RxULHM3dCxYvFWDO0HCfqPbmtcgZgg_F1p_lFyiuV_dR9wdI2bLdHfAS3k5wWRzUM/s1600/202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS_4cgwx8DUCozFmZBPbaCgcfj5osTHqYXPKvqrA08zccRObpPZId1aAH3kPSHQ9IN9T3A69Bd1RxULHM3dCxYvFWDO0HCfqPbmtcgZgg_F1p_lFyiuV_dR9wdI2bLdHfAS3k5wWRzUM/s320/202.JPG" /></a></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-4084137903884128142010-08-25T19:23:00.000-07:002010-08-25T19:27:11.847-07:00Wordless Wednesday....mostly...I <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">know I missed a week, but I was sick in bed last Wednesday due to lack of sleep. (If I don't sleep, I puke...just the way God made me. And because I would rather do ANYTHING than puke, sleep is a really big deal for me.) And because I am anal, I just didn't think posting "Wordless Wednesday" on Thursday would work. Plus, I hadn't taken any pictures worth posting. So, here we go...</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKov2zmIw2BPtANjIE_goLQP39kMpvLb0CfzAj7IVAoHFSKWYsVJxpJ1SZgVIcwe_pmMyUqvxb0WrKhl3iI3UZwX9ECcLBb0kEzNIjtiBBRyfiw5E_B-p_XdlbddPEte9iwcavOD0wdQ8/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKov2zmIw2BPtANjIE_goLQP39kMpvLb0CfzAj7IVAoHFSKWYsVJxpJ1SZgVIcwe_pmMyUqvxb0WrKhl3iI3UZwX9ECcLBb0kEzNIjtiBBRyfiw5E_B-p_XdlbddPEte9iwcavOD0wdQ8/s320/027.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma fell asleep on Daddy...so sweet!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqAShvSTubWSrZI1894NqxSmPO9ziKJtetw_Kr211DOeEyM5xOoSpbO_zTSY90aRgViZ4l4rt73R6pjyyLBkCdm-KYnxYyMq5leVCdR-Y469uInHYB1xH4Kr95XXK111ko_Bke62JqG0/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqAShvSTubWSrZI1894NqxSmPO9ziKJtetw_Kr211DOeEyM5xOoSpbO_zTSY90aRgViZ4l4rt73R6pjyyLBkCdm-KYnxYyMq5leVCdR-Y469uInHYB1xH4Kr95XXK111ko_Bke62JqG0/s320/018.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma getting really messy with dinner...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JHSDmC7IBkXTenIlhcbJGxlork0weD-muSkR1VfJlKRB6kztx_S_gCj6yIR99dipGPyDWfvOnvgS2ghVuToVGc3iPVkwrB9rhyz2gEXkqDqWtcvwpt198AczU0KNGx35n8HVoyQfi0s/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JHSDmC7IBkXTenIlhcbJGxlork0weD-muSkR1VfJlKRB6kztx_S_gCj6yIR99dipGPyDWfvOnvgS2ghVuToVGc3iPVkwrB9rhyz2gEXkqDqWtcvwpt198AczU0KNGx35n8HVoyQfi0s/s320/008.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
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</div></><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Bible Study time...Bryce was reading as Mom is teaching baby's about "blanket time"<br />
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<div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past week marked two years since Jacob died. I have lots rattling around in my head in regards to this, but it will have to wait a couple of days. For now, remembering Jacob Levi....</span></div><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBPap8eMojEsRhp-sOjg6s6lKeMCWOgseVvouOPA84nh_D0GKSEFDhzm01yzmPSJSkT6l04caNTvmx1BXFi9buil3Wwb0pniao_2bmbQbuFX4X4wh-F1kovC07WI5cnvMNOD5xP_cuZY/s1600/IMG_1216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBPap8eMojEsRhp-sOjg6s6lKeMCWOgseVvouOPA84nh_D0GKSEFDhzm01yzmPSJSkT6l04caNTvmx1BXFi9buil3Wwb0pniao_2bmbQbuFX4X4wh-F1kovC07WI5cnvMNOD5xP_cuZY/s320/IMG_1216.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6-rUqhWwut4Rm8AfAYBm1Afx2epu2M8Cop87fHY1l17pdEh_1BwspD-w-vyrKi5HfYbLjxZZBG__LUio4Wk7M8aiOyNXHGSTMgNNg2SwKfTj0IF4jM_CsNrSXu8qlaId-T2jvmht16s/s1600/IMG_0905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6-rUqhWwut4Rm8AfAYBm1Afx2epu2M8Cop87fHY1l17pdEh_1BwspD-w-vyrKi5HfYbLjxZZBG__LUio4Wk7M8aiOyNXHGSTMgNNg2SwKfTj0IF4jM_CsNrSXu8qlaId-T2jvmht16s/s320/IMG_0905.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSHWkyA_Yz1aLFAosnghRLFjrORCpZ1WzS1eIfCUbMS8efofHC21YvstHid3V9lU5eVzxS0meWutnWCluOovoGJWYqTxKOeDOsGt5bzh8Ew1SRTrV3zCgqZNWhzV7Mnx3rPWrcExjx1s/s1600/IMG_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSHWkyA_Yz1aLFAosnghRLFjrORCpZ1WzS1eIfCUbMS8efofHC21YvstHid3V9lU5eVzxS0meWutnWCluOovoGJWYqTxKOeDOsGt5bzh8Ew1SRTrV3zCgqZNWhzV7Mnx3rPWrcExjx1s/s320/IMG_0201.JPG" /></a></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-37977931933900369282010-08-11T13:08:00.000-07:002010-08-11T13:08:52.888-07:00Wordless Wednesday<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pictures from the Mt. View/Gotebo fair!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wYHP5Z1Uh7JukM1OxivhELnaBNB1v9GU-xa0deVkjXf5IPMkLbztK1ucrs-gzu6rvDSzrMaOh-gG1YZp94uA_cboJZhEXLd2oXxcy3s9OVdxIDQUV4VoIbPH31Q1gtZIS0HjzTZ5iZ8/s1600/Emma+at+fair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wYHP5Z1Uh7JukM1OxivhELnaBNB1v9GU-xa0deVkjXf5IPMkLbztK1ucrs-gzu6rvDSzrMaOh-gG1YZp94uA_cboJZhEXLd2oXxcy3s9OVdxIDQUV4VoIbPH31Q1gtZIS0HjzTZ5iZ8/s320/Emma+at+fair.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaoXLedauDP-NsGY2uMaylrE80FBL2uNrV0uPIFRMIb5oaLTsPG_BygS1zIuztrG_IJQWShR6Mzp2lwH87gOqRuwE0gjYna5b3wgH5o6Zy9dDpEoFo3huuTuVaMkE9lA2NHOFBWv9RL0/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaoXLedauDP-NsGY2uMaylrE80FBL2uNrV0uPIFRMIb5oaLTsPG_BygS1zIuztrG_IJQWShR6Mzp2lwH87gOqRuwE0gjYna5b3wgH5o6Zy9dDpEoFo3huuTuVaMkE9lA2NHOFBWv9RL0/s320/052.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E9B0PDA1m9D2Je_wRO3AyXmZPfs1y3rCy4BLkzsTW3eGrUWedp2nReWYOz8Vaz1J-Hvy2uwIGxC4ZasvXle-Qn63U4qPtr6ynebLLUiHf15yBFXVyeHV7HZbeFn2VUZg9vMfZCH52Ho/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E9B0PDA1m9D2Je_wRO3AyXmZPfs1y3rCy4BLkzsTW3eGrUWedp2nReWYOz8Vaz1J-Hvy2uwIGxC4ZasvXle-Qn63U4qPtr6ynebLLUiHf15yBFXVyeHV7HZbeFn2VUZg9vMfZCH52Ho/s320/077.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVj5rkjunz6CKlm63QKf4eijrUm7JipZ7f3iA3T8_4e_t_Pqeq_wNmDnVV6vXop2m-C3JJXfKDeScpWSGmkDTr4tB13en7WawzyDGW6EUhInPd9k0kHEMm82znYvfiAJ3ZqEsgktgCkc/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVj5rkjunz6CKlm63QKf4eijrUm7JipZ7f3iA3T8_4e_t_Pqeq_wNmDnVV6vXop2m-C3JJXfKDeScpWSGmkDTr4tB13en7WawzyDGW6EUhInPd9k0kHEMm82znYvfiAJ3ZqEsgktgCkc/s320/081.JPG" /></a></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-6492446654899310892010-08-04T08:59:00.000-07:002010-08-04T08:59:37.932-07:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTomv0RzVYOI2dM6mmf3VFrmgFgNcZihZOolrN8Sm6npkDUcXpffIKwcM8uKk807ouSjENsbzaK2WrXD2K4BDbqCVCbRzBfkhXcIHIw281KgoDLH5SitQI9xCFMLgNaIeKHHI4dvDXAic/s1600/139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTomv0RzVYOI2dM6mmf3VFrmgFgNcZihZOolrN8Sm6npkDUcXpffIKwcM8uKk807ouSjENsbzaK2WrXD2K4BDbqCVCbRzBfkhXcIHIw281KgoDLH5SitQI9xCFMLgNaIeKHHI4dvDXAic/s320/139.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WVFcOyXDMf-njtv4tFxEOib4qmUhK_tlUjyA7Xtg8WxVzdzQi4nNowJlbrRSIUUBZSiFIusgmAcy28SGE_OXD9FMfR2tzQ87i3naLn2cp4byq2copb8ZipL2Vkq4uqPHpHjqy9AvoME/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WVFcOyXDMf-njtv4tFxEOib4qmUhK_tlUjyA7Xtg8WxVzdzQi4nNowJlbrRSIUUBZSiFIusgmAcy28SGE_OXD9FMfR2tzQ87i3naLn2cp4byq2copb8ZipL2Vkq4uqPHpHjqy9AvoME/s320/056.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6CLuDTDHOK5PJb5GOZz1hjZI1aqyqYA4IsebEeSVIJ0KM6DkHcHbfU77K7EItXRdbRVDZXNWtGzzrBXe96H2mGbBFsrEjFPrOqI4yq9GJNwA56VC2hTDAGm60NSA2gqfKyKhzhuA9v4/s1600/269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSh9VJ5lEaaIdX_j7Qu8FUASPKSXlwt_9daHCtzO4EVY9omu56ndEtsoxxDqcIHIgKCCfjKevc6AlzAOLl04QSzIV5OJ3T-IeQh21yEQl36UOovP-0Pimq53VsvmxQOkngCm9G2Juh88/s320/258.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTq7Ino0ZKQDFlLkFgvwuvmvrbBIeLgiSDkCkicXz6YGOdQ3TRVGmywe2iPcrr2L3nMOA2k9FmfvSNuwQk3O1v0PJt6MjnFPNKk1bD5TVCYdkBDgPwxDCIRrEOU6-4dSZQ98OZqtN8vQ/s1600/594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTq7Ino0ZKQDFlLkFgvwuvmvrbBIeLgiSDkCkicXz6YGOdQ3TRVGmywe2iPcrr2L3nMOA2k9FmfvSNuwQk3O1v0PJt6MjnFPNKk1bD5TVCYdkBDgPwxDCIRrEOU6-4dSZQ98OZqtN8vQ/s320/594.JPG" /></a></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-52236362325997545362010-07-31T20:54:00.000-07:002010-07-31T20:54:57.444-07:00Happy Birthday, Emma Claire!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A year ago today, I walked into labor and delivery and a very kind nurse handed me this amazing 6 lb, 5 oz miracle baby:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UcMFv4qJQmC_VOudjWePeb78edQdm8ODPLKcSesq3pV4UIj1LXatcMf8JbIzdujAcapbLo0-Z2fl-iA0IQOWQtaq5KYQ27I3CrSrMvt-CI8noi3uwX0fA3gPlurIT2Mq8EaqosRnEbU/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UcMFv4qJQmC_VOudjWePeb78edQdm8ODPLKcSesq3pV4UIj1LXatcMf8JbIzdujAcapbLo0-Z2fl-iA0IQOWQtaq5KYQ27I3CrSrMvt-CI8noi3uwX0fA3gPlurIT2Mq8EaqosRnEbU/s320/027.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUGCYeeYef8hARHfo2yJZSxRGVq7P_JO_KkohAxMJwEiP_mK-yksLbOcAcJZiqnt8dBJfv8Vqbj1CaY5i8nj_RyXuS9hK1e1Q1XBhJ4hAD3Sb3oEv8fRMg-jYg1K-MJBcqH3AcSqyCZg/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUGCYeeYef8hARHfo2yJZSxRGVq7P_JO_KkohAxMJwEiP_mK-yksLbOcAcJZiqnt8dBJfv8Vqbj1CaY5i8nj_RyXuS9hK1e1Q1XBhJ4hAD3Sb3oEv8fRMg-jYg1K-MJBcqH3AcSqyCZg/s320/060.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0LkdntCCsH6CQqJJLMZXRL9etvi2ViOBLOlHfFA8OcqRKu1qdTBmblnDiSPaE2M1KklowLlVb9g5qxkYKxSouBs-Qrp-kqJz4gw26jyMpU0dii9ZebHn-h96_a_DX0BESKUF_gbfF44/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0LkdntCCsH6CQqJJLMZXRL9etvi2ViOBLOlHfFA8OcqRKu1qdTBmblnDiSPaE2M1KklowLlVb9g5qxkYKxSouBs-Qrp-kqJz4gw26jyMpU0dii9ZebHn-h96_a_DX0BESKUF_gbfF44/s320/052.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdhAKEqSaqYmdhnvR2F_cnCnuDFzkQnQWGbRT3ufnFk9ePvjXlAIzay0c1reZyDqLur9EaKpKFquQE7TK-tqvnFsk-U8_FprB6HaP8PQ5-G-F4FBrps_Qpte4Yi-2xwgN9Ill9CcFbNQ/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdhAKEqSaqYmdhnvR2F_cnCnuDFzkQnQWGbRT3ufnFk9ePvjXlAIzay0c1reZyDqLur9EaKpKFquQE7TK-tqvnFsk-U8_FprB6HaP8PQ5-G-F4FBrps_Qpte4Yi-2xwgN9Ill9CcFbNQ/s320/018.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, Emma Claire is one year old. Wow. A LOT can happen in a year!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, if you have been following me or know much about us, you know that our plan to bring Emma home from that hospital did not happen. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">But God is faithful. We also know that Emma Claire DID come home to us, 7 1/2 months later, despite plans formed against us, to God be the Glory!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">But you know what? If Emma was not here with us, our forever child, God is still faithful. Did you hear me?? Yes, we had what you might call a "fairy tale ending", but what if it hadn't turned out this way? And for 7 1/2 months, I had no idea it would turn out like it did, but I did know that my God would be faithful.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My family has endured a lot of heartache in the past couple of years. But we have also experienced immense joy. It kind of reminds me of the Cross. God allowed His Son to go through terror...it was terrifying...the pain, the agony for BOTH of them, not only Jesus, but His own Father who had to allow it all to happen. But what joy there was on the third day when He rose again and with that brought the promise of salvation! Sorrow and joy, sorrow and joy. It's almost like you can't have one without the other. And yet, God is faithful. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In my "perfect" description of my life, I would have nine children here...Jacob would be a 4 year old big brother now, causing all sorts of trouble with his 4 year old cohort, Josiah. "X" and Emma would be learning all of their tricks. We wouldn't know sorrow like we know it now. I would probably not be sitting here at noon in my pj's typing on a blog when I should be getting ready to leave my house! But God is faithful.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've said this before, that I cannot share all the miracles that are taking place with "X" right now, but did you know that if Emma had come home from the hospital when TRACY thought she should, "X" would not be a part of our family. It's easy to trust when you can look back and see the full picture of what God was doing, but not as easy when you are in the middle of it. "X" happens to be a miracle, also and I know I keep teasing you with the story, but I promise to share when I can! What joy I would have missed in "X" had the story gone the way I wanted it to. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A couple of weeks ago, my 9 year old Noah said to me, "Mom, when Jacob died, God took one of our blessings, but then He gave us two more blessings!" Indeed He did. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I woke up this morning with this song running through my head, it's one we sang back in my "ensemble" days, back before I probably knew just how faithful God is to me.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In my moments of fear</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Through every pain every tear</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">There's a God whose been faithful to me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">When my strength was all gone</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">When my heart had no song still in love</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">He's proved faithful to me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Every word he's promised, is true</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">What I thought was impossible</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I see my God do</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Chorus:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">He's been faithful, faithful to me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking back his love and mercy I see</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">In my heart I have questioned even failed to believe</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">When my heart looked away</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The many times I could not pray</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Still my God, He was faithful to me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The days I spent so selfishly reaching out for what pleased me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Even then God was faithful to me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ev'ry time I come back to him</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">He is waiting with open arms and I see once again</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_CHZ4y6VLxHpRAdWShaEJvZSFOJAXwPYhQ0sLIvZAqGqjoaSUAIQ_lLHIjXqfynUxiy0RcYuOVp1zT9HFja2ikXrjBEQjwR2ChR3zYPQB9_oKLCdJT7zbQ4B8ibgCSmb1eFjMnNm7dw/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_CHZ4y6VLxHpRAdWShaEJvZSFOJAXwPYhQ0sLIvZAqGqjoaSUAIQ_lLHIjXqfynUxiy0RcYuOVp1zT9HFja2ikXrjBEQjwR2ChR3zYPQB9_oKLCdJT7zbQ4B8ibgCSmb1eFjMnNm7dw/s320/116.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every night, I rock Emma Claire to sleep. I look at her as she stares at me with her big, dark, brown eyes and am still in awe of our journey. Sometimes she looks at me with the same awe I look at her with. I pray that her story, our story of God's faithfulness, will be something that others will see and know that God did this!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFKNffdejG6R73mUsBJwMXo6otX2MzEvzx72GP90UmHM2gB5bF8yV0HCY3L6hhMlqopHkjNeBe_EAfQ-uIuQ6FyG1G9VqgymLKT_SgJPZ1M_N1Sh6YmiAWXL9jITlC5648m9mkB3OLwY/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFKNffdejG6R73mUsBJwMXo6otX2MzEvzx72GP90UmHM2gB5bF8yV0HCY3L6hhMlqopHkjNeBe_EAfQ-uIuQ6FyG1G9VqgymLKT_SgJPZ1M_N1Sh6YmiAWXL9jITlC5648m9mkB3OLwY/s320/164.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTtOUYKYMjc7jwn7PMOWvzmGNKVJcwv-jajwz-xq27bjY8jorQnxON1IJ8BxieAU2gSvbL1Woa2nxK_DlU_thFTyAFbdCjCSPylgC-xFXLZvuqiMfmi9sh46zN4Qzf2-Pobz1oTnudxI/s1600/178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTtOUYKYMjc7jwn7PMOWvzmGNKVJcwv-jajwz-xq27bjY8jorQnxON1IJ8BxieAU2gSvbL1Woa2nxK_DlU_thFTyAFbdCjCSPylgC-xFXLZvuqiMfmi9sh46zN4Qzf2-Pobz1oTnudxI/s320/178.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ2kkpF0QIfsQuz6AOOXfnk12mHSaRA2nHwnuWIqOKcQlUahe1AoXpQnObPcxVzm9kvyait8rjRWLahbl5FZCwTLhW-fdTXqfKhm6OiFsvB3O4yIsnWlmj3tmSHhojtdYNIJfeOKQdms/s1600/314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXdNYA3p_E-63-SNtpf41la2GkmRVd3fCetpsZK4Vp83KhpfiY-JIVS3nep34KMl1skuR-HlXaX7o44kVGwT1RxUapUOhDM1nSSa-3t8LVUyRw_xV260atEQJxTJ_Kg2lyduzRjoHnkE/s320/606.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRGr3dmaeeI0TfP_RsOTx3nE3sB7GxRDV_0FPcFkP1bW5DzFsaHgcYMbV54Sm1cuQB0e1ZYUndqR5MKyYQVUqQtk_KVNua8APxwUAIF2JBoB1X9kzVe9by9r4m1UcsKBjFfPBTndU5ok/s1600/657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRGr3dmaeeI0TfP_RsOTx3nE3sB7GxRDV_0FPcFkP1bW5DzFsaHgcYMbV54Sm1cuQB0e1ZYUndqR5MKyYQVUqQtk_KVNua8APxwUAIF2JBoB1X9kzVe9by9r4m1UcsKBjFfPBTndU5ok/s320/657.JPG" /></a></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-82630351591154796512010-07-28T13:13:00.000-07:002010-07-29T09:51:18.459-07:00Wordless Wednesday...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGp7DkiABLDdBybyEon4XGo_Swj-HzyYchDcco14M7NM7zTO0wtx3r_8HR8gDXcVIB_RnriBidWmb0LZ1CUhJkMHVER-fvs6xtETa6aaR9hyphenhyphenOKmrBdt097k2px4mLH8nKiZDEILzpO6v4/s1600/159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGp7DkiABLDdBybyEon4XGo_Swj-HzyYchDcco14M7NM7zTO0wtx3r_8HR8gDXcVIB_RnriBidWmb0LZ1CUhJkMHVER-fvs6xtETa6aaR9hyphenhyphenOKmrBdt097k2px4mLH8nKiZDEILzpO6v4/s320/159.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma Claire</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji239s1hnLidrcQo75oMbRT2v5yA78yVSzcfhyUhA7fCKHjMhLHmWkynQxrTgFPvk-XxoXzPNkG9tVkcyZmfiv56IWGboeGh_67V-ZpKnSeO_RzLBHeyuEfH1WkUEspMyArOITqd7j4p8/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji239s1hnLidrcQo75oMbRT2v5yA78yVSzcfhyUhA7fCKHjMhLHmWkynQxrTgFPvk-XxoXzPNkG9tVkcyZmfiv56IWGboeGh_67V-ZpKnSeO_RzLBHeyuEfH1WkUEspMyArOITqd7j4p8/s320/014.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josiah posing </td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbAzZGUBF8vHGbqZbr_R35dwfvNJOVXkYSQ6CMB5-gH01Z1FB9miUAyj3fsv1Dep93Vz9QskHsKl0muFAVseRZnEtnROXmeBAO32ggNlaAN1Uf1Wa86xBUucCSwBQdOh_9S5ooLLSkSE/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbAzZGUBF8vHGbqZbr_R35dwfvNJOVXkYSQ6CMB5-gH01Z1FB9miUAyj3fsv1Dep93Vz9QskHsKl0muFAVseRZnEtnROXmeBAO32ggNlaAN1Uf1Wa86xBUucCSwBQdOh_9S5ooLLSkSE/s320/035.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two moms, 11 swimming children, 4 babies</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujoBPL8nwCYgtenXYyJUxWSQGCMNN51crPInerSFNrAP_3SvweaGDe8F5QDUluUSbJ_X4sYuuUJb318l6Sd4B_buf9X7o8C7ZiKUPbv0Z_28tFeMcAc6qyEXtEnNC_mkKZdDRGvXrO5Q/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujoBPL8nwCYgtenXYyJUxWSQGCMNN51crPInerSFNrAP_3SvweaGDe8F5QDUluUSbJ_X4sYuuUJb318l6Sd4B_buf9X7o8C7ZiKUPbv0Z_28tFeMcAc6qyEXtEnNC_mkKZdDRGvXrO5Q/s320/071.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin showing off his "moves"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxfle01DSy5zYYqNnM0QmmpX4jkU1dgXiCdfotXaDvM823sE5JWowG0VtPxIJBnj08WqDkegesVTfy5FOQACWG9jlqKP___T60YctWdXgallhwrY-J4Kkujk7teBMAKGFy6nh_XzXXc8/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxfle01DSy5zYYqNnM0QmmpX4jkU1dgXiCdfotXaDvM823sE5JWowG0VtPxIJBnj08WqDkegesVTfy5FOQACWG9jlqKP___T60YctWdXgallhwrY-J4Kkujk7teBMAKGFy6nh_XzXXc8/s320/072.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serious dork...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt0iTipZDwjwhjWH4NNHjHeE-cuDii7z92RJ9oyxddC275vVAvYjAKwiG3MhASmmRrKbgmKggjmD9_YHhEU89Jnw5K8lrI00wB_V714-yFAjfJ6C7F-3eg_xuMyMvB2e7JE1k8cnoVh8/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt0iTipZDwjwhjWH4NNHjHeE-cuDii7z92RJ9oyxddC275vVAvYjAKwiG3MhASmmRrKbgmKggjmD9_YHhEU89Jnw5K8lrI00wB_V714-yFAjfJ6C7F-3eg_xuMyMvB2e7JE1k8cnoVh8/s320/074.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure what the prayer was about!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvtwfFbkTfAaXiOfPjC5j0A5eON4y5cpueBEMAMIFlyiRDhtxq5xwkpfD3nBboobSFM41kV-MysUZameqaJO7cDMoy-ccMwEuMkujnPZFIGx1GnKIwlOuEWuebT-jXshAYCyNSjFCP6o/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvtwfFbkTfAaXiOfPjC5j0A5eON4y5cpueBEMAMIFlyiRDhtxq5xwkpfD3nBboobSFM41kV-MysUZameqaJO7cDMoy-ccMwEuMkujnPZFIGx1GnKIwlOuEWuebT-jXshAYCyNSjFCP6o/s320/095.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noah</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHQH82sSHmSHMDS0MtkNqd4g-GytW5_EXEWeM05Z0lKrtL3Q_nF3lVtfZYuKO_GtTeKoDpVBOoTlXBwAIjrhDHY85xeOMoXOtdDqAiFpzMIiyDPZlJhOZrI_P74Vl0pdxnU8njpoR9kU/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHQH82sSHmSHMDS0MtkNqd4g-GytW5_EXEWeM05Z0lKrtL3Q_nF3lVtfZYuKO_GtTeKoDpVBOoTlXBwAIjrhDHY85xeOMoXOtdDqAiFpzMIiyDPZlJhOZrI_P74Vl0pdxnU8njpoR9kU/s320/102.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More sweet moves by Justin</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKeHksKfnw80HBOWm8G2A78dsilDXAVWKONbjlRVi_Rnp2JQ6PLuemIf87i5kMZw3xJMSjLZ5sRwd2kWoCm1pBIWYdrNIZLEw98VdJnzxKcD98zgMR5zisboSV_wZ76BaL9b766wNcPU/s1600/155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKeHksKfnw80HBOWm8G2A78dsilDXAVWKONbjlRVi_Rnp2JQ6PLuemIf87i5kMZw3xJMSjLZ5sRwd2kWoCm1pBIWYdrNIZLEw98VdJnzxKcD98zgMR5zisboSV_wZ76BaL9b766wNcPU/s320/155.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryce</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i8W3Hr5blP-OAsc6H7YqEHPHdi-E2URXvyeK5Gbq_gScgqfLvCWsUPD-mPifmGe2WlE5QtTn3brxgDZeMOK9SC-Gryc2Am8LnDd7L98cMKYfMc6hblH7_Ieq2skNxlpkbmMcAy2VkOc/s1600/165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i8W3Hr5blP-OAsc6H7YqEHPHdi-E2URXvyeK5Gbq_gScgqfLvCWsUPD-mPifmGe2WlE5QtTn3brxgDZeMOK9SC-Gryc2Am8LnDd7L98cMKYfMc6hblH7_Ieq2skNxlpkbmMcAy2VkOc/s320/165.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma and her bff...her thumb!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFtuYpJL202THwOQ6kPEKufjUFhVphfDDnB3xsLDfqmyZb7ymLX8UshBBfx2qXFq_6pk_2b4mPaY1NYVhccJaRMNLEKLRpG264C2z71JGxkvcGOOmFcLJbgRuCe22-aFYq1DO4ydiax8/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFtuYpJL202THwOQ6kPEKufjUFhVphfDDnB3xsLDfqmyZb7ymLX8UshBBfx2qXFq_6pk_2b4mPaY1NYVhccJaRMNLEKLRpG264C2z71JGxkvcGOOmFcLJbgRuCe22-aFYq1DO4ydiax8/s320/017.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NAUGHTY GIRL CAUGHT DELETING MOMMY'S BLOG POST!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkt67-GBcD_mw2JeT2auemvYUiPRv862iHRgpUSttUvucEc_l4ecotFrOnTObAh4R2Zy6oiinYRMel-ExNtMzwZcqBlumeInKqlAdQzU-9TJYrHJ9ansmSVXc9NYSX3qKO1dG28cFqLhA/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkt67-GBcD_mw2JeT2auemvYUiPRv862iHRgpUSttUvucEc_l4ecotFrOnTObAh4R2Zy6oiinYRMel-ExNtMzwZcqBlumeInKqlAdQzU-9TJYrHJ9ansmSVXc9NYSX3qKO1dG28cFqLhA/s320/013.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"It wasn't me, mom!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-29865948880857942502010-07-21T09:14:00.000-07:002010-07-21T09:14:42.729-07:00Wordless Wednesday...almost!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5gQs7MgPj2ZTa1fnoVMoEHnJwKQJEtEIchsDeF3t0ltkVBUuTBRT7IP-n9wa6RI6vjMjCOQdCV-MQEG1zMg8tOOtJf_c-xTGdhL0VMQfxzyjST_FVpNXLZc8ux8R0JFs9XxbB2ZZu2U/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5gQs7MgPj2ZTa1fnoVMoEHnJwKQJEtEIchsDeF3t0ltkVBUuTBRT7IP-n9wa6RI6vjMjCOQdCV-MQEG1zMg8tOOtJf_c-xTGdhL0VMQfxzyjST_FVpNXLZc8ux8R0JFs9XxbB2ZZu2U/s320/001.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister didn't make it through lunch after being at church all morning!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4lOO1Pkwikxr9snf8EpxuUXNg-HLqQjRryk_pShqp1dkJS7lP-8pKfybQAcBP8brTIjWC17PnGxsIl9ouyupLOqcWP6T-WWu8CHNgVHBKOQ05qy9CqH4egK4pfAvT4QAL9nzvRBDnSw/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4lOO1Pkwikxr9snf8EpxuUXNg-HLqQjRryk_pShqp1dkJS7lP-8pKfybQAcBP8brTIjWC17PnGxsIl9ouyupLOqcWP6T-WWu8CHNgVHBKOQ05qy9CqH4egK4pfAvT4QAL9nzvRBDnSw/s320/020.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Give me what I want and nobody gets hurt....much!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhB0J4KggEqGObOAUVSBHPrpjW83HzC78zoW2xjfc1-D1BcY3l1yY_c0qo26looBZHQ0Rgeq4vDyPyKRf7imdmXBmpYoS4jJMzUwBqtw3m6jfFun3Qk_8MbW1SdtSKUne5S7uY8y1g98/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhB0J4KggEqGObOAUVSBHPrpjW83HzC78zoW2xjfc1-D1BcY3l1yY_c0qo26looBZHQ0Rgeq4vDyPyKRf7imdmXBmpYoS4jJMzUwBqtw3m6jfFun3Qk_8MbW1SdtSKUne5S7uY8y1g98/s320/049.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Spider-Buzz" is our highly sophisticated security system here at the Phillips' house!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxCrhWxTOwPWTtzRPYUvknueTqa_7ebYEDpcrj_vrmrFJIcUi99JFGIq21vESfCyNqux1UwvY4qgvKx3hUKY6G1CyEGGGeZJPzXvWA9OlPYfjvhvzSG0sxmol_gwReJpEsOVfhRromrA/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxCrhWxTOwPWTtzRPYUvknueTqa_7ebYEDpcrj_vrmrFJIcUi99JFGIq21vESfCyNqux1UwvY4qgvKx3hUKY6G1CyEGGGeZJPzXvWA9OlPYfjvhvzSG0sxmol_gwReJpEsOVfhRromrA/s320/018.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes I like 4 year olds....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAnhvxxZ0CW4ZgvlFauvWaWBSB3g79XS0e65Xw6jPQNwHIil03nGqJ2dvUyEpYFdcBm-7SDD4ZsBKMo1LDcaLU0OxDgfl0c-HoM5SLsTAXBVA2P8kYvv8hVYq1LmNCD8i6n5t1ABRKrU/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAnhvxxZ0CW4ZgvlFauvWaWBSB3g79XS0e65Xw6jPQNwHIil03nGqJ2dvUyEpYFdcBm-7SDD4ZsBKMo1LDcaLU0OxDgfl0c-HoM5SLsTAXBVA2P8kYvv8hVYq1LmNCD8i6n5t1ABRKrU/s320/086.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh from the bath...she smells so good!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-58837921980472032232010-07-15T11:25:00.000-07:002010-07-15T11:25:33.524-07:00The Voice of Truth...repost from 2009As I was looking through my old blog the other day, I found this post and thought it was worthy of a repost. A year ago today, this is what I wrote:<br />
<br />
Wednesday, July 15, 2009<br />
<br />
<br />
The Voice of Truth<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>But the Voice of truth tells me a different story </em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>Out of all the voices calling out to me</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth.</em><br />
<br />
You might have noticed a pattern here, but God speaks to me many time through music. I have always loved music and have been considered very "musical". I believe God gifted me musically so that He could use it to speak to me. So, this Casting Crowns song is the one I have clung to this past week. <br />
<br />
God has also been speaking to me about choices. We all make choices. Every single event that takes place in our lives has to do with choices. You may disagree, as there are events that happen that we have absolutely no control over, for instance, Jacob's death. I did not choose for him to die, but choices were made in how we responded to that death and how we chose to live our lives after the tragedy. Every single day I choose to get up and go on with my life. I choose to allow Christ to guide me and hold me in His hand. I choose to allow joy in the sorrow. (As someone said to me this week, we allow sorrow to interrupt our joy, why don't we allow joy to interrupt our sorrow?) I choose not to hide in my room from the rest of my family. I choose not to place blame on how Jacob died. I choose to plan and hope for our future, even though it no longer includes Jacob. <br />
<br />
AND IT'S HARD!!!! Some days, like today, I just want to give up. I want to say "forget you all, I'll be in my room"! I am tired. I want my life back. I am fed up with people. I want some peace in my life! ("the voice of truth says this is for my glory")<br />
<br />
But what I want to do is not really Biblical and I choose to follow Christ as closely as possible. Which is why, through leaning on Him explicitly, when you come to my home, I'm not locked in the closet. (Well, normally, unless I am trying to get away from a 3 year old!) I am hoping for the future because I know without a doubt that when God allows something like losing your 2 year old baby you worked SO hard to save from the life he was born into, that God is also planning on using you in a mighty way, someday, somehow, somewhere. And somewhere, in the grief, the pain, the memories, the unexpected pictures in your head, there is excitement and anticipation about what God has in store. <br />
<br />
With that being said, let me fill you in on a little bit of what has been going on with me this week that has God speaking to me in such a way. Her name is "E" and we were introduced to one another almost 8 weeks ago. In those 8 weeks, a very strange friendship has emerged. She is carrying our baby, Emma Claire. She has a mental illness and is a drug addict. She has choices to make every day, just like the rest of us. Right now, she is NOT choosing to live her life in such a way that is safe for her, or Emma Claire. <br />
<br />
Today, because "E" has made some very bad choices, she checked herself into the mental health hospital. She will be there for at least a week, I am praying they will keep her longer (like until she goes into labor). I have been praying for the past week that God would protect Emma Claire and "E" and once again, He has answered my prayer, just when I couldn't figure out in my feeble mind how He could possibly protect my baby while in "E's" womb! Since "E" is pregnant, and high risk (mental illness, Type A diabetes, addict) she has been assigned to a high risk doctor and I was told they would be monitoring the baby closely. Hallelujah! She is also just around the corner from the maternity ward in case she should go into labor. I love "E" when she is just a mental patient...I do NOT love "E" when the drugs are involved. I will also receive a little break as "E" can only use the phone and have visitors certain times of the day, so I will not have to "rescue" her for the next week. <br />
<br />
Please pray...she is a Christian. She KNOWS what she is doing is wrong. Please pray that she would choose to give her life back over to Christ. HE is her only hope, just as he is OUR only hope. <br />
<br />
We are due in 4 1/2 weeks. I came home today after sitting with "E" for about 3 hours and was weary. The thoughts were going through my head, "Why can't this be easier, God??" "Let's just be done with it!" And then I realized, that once again, this is not about me. This is for HIS glory, and HIS alone. It's not about what a good person I am for taking in these drug babies. It's about my willingness and obedience to do the hard things that are going to lead more people to Him in the end. So, my 3 hours "wasted" today was a small sacrifice for the giant things that could end up glorifying Him.<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>But the Voice of truth tells me a different story</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>Out of all the voices calling out to me</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth.</em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6x-ZFDc7WvJZlFGh1rBFmskjdRFB11i0Q742TBblubgZOaJq8ylM6wGqF1stqhIcFsnv3FmAOeA6hsSGGLbS0lzIg-cNdyyTnFgaakjkZfY7qVIdC-3aS7BQzGiSo2rDJQgp37cD16k/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6x-ZFDc7WvJZlFGh1rBFmskjdRFB11i0Q742TBblubgZOaJq8ylM6wGqF1stqhIcFsnv3FmAOeA6hsSGGLbS0lzIg-cNdyyTnFgaakjkZfY7qVIdC-3aS7BQzGiSo2rDJQgp37cD16k/s320/003.JPG" /></a></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-45805880480379348262010-07-14T07:45:00.000-07:002010-07-14T07:46:15.061-07:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGq9SCCZpgfmjcU2kbZiEhCd2GRx3vSC8WATEyzrs7YB7mbQ6QejHEecSpeQ2hh8CMIzeWm9kMFhXQrRxYirtgiu_B5-ZnwNLrOE9kWF86xVK-W9Ppz4YcYaFbcXqPmkYo7y-Xv1jh_tw/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGq9SCCZpgfmjcU2kbZiEhCd2GRx3vSC8WATEyzrs7YB7mbQ6QejHEecSpeQ2hh8CMIzeWm9kMFhXQrRxYirtgiu_B5-ZnwNLrOE9kWF86xVK-W9Ppz4YcYaFbcXqPmkYo7y-Xv1jh_tw/s400/064.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-25978154423015476632010-07-13T12:12:00.000-07:002010-07-13T12:12:28.680-07:00The prayer never prayed...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few days ago, my mother asked me a question. It always makes me a little nervous when she says, "I want to ask you a question, but I don't want you to get mad." WHAT?? She does this to me occasionally...fortunately, I don't get mad easily.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">She said something like, "You talk about Jacob and Emma being answers to prayer, but how do you feel about Samara and Josiah?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here's my answer: First of all, I talk about Jacob. This blog started to keep our friends and family up to date in regards to his death, the investigation, etc. Then it took a turn to Emma. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Jacob was NOT an answer to prayer. Neither were Samara and Josiah or "X". See, I prayed about what direction we were supposed to go before we started doing foster care, but Emma was the only PROMISE I asked for and was given. We had not planned on adopting...not that we weren't open to the idea, but that wasn't OUR plan when going into foster care. In all of my own infinite wisdom, I figured that I would probably get pregnant with a baby girl and that is how He would give us our Emma that was promised. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, how do I feel about Samara and Josiah, and Jacob and "X" when it comes to God, promises, and answered prayers??</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I believe that God answered a prayer that I never knew to pray with these 4 children. Each one of them has brought his/her own blessings with them. Each one of them has grown us in different ways and filled needs within our family that ONLY God could have known were there. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Do I feel more for one of these children than the others?? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Each one of my adopted children has come with their own amazing story. What has happened, is God has used Emma's story in a mighty way...it just so happened that I was able to share the story and you were able to watch it unfold. But I don't love her more, or feel like God did "better" with this one than He did with my others. Samara and Josiah have been touched by God in the same amazing way that Jacob and Emma were/are. And when I am able to share the story of "X" and how it has been miraculously intertwined with Emma and her story, you will be amazed at how our God works.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I believe that God has brought me to a place that I can share more about the rest of our family and our lives. Jacob and his death is no longer on the forefront of my mind, guiding every minute of my day. Emma and the unknown with regards to her are no longer an issue. We are finally able to move on with our lives so to speak. We are at a calm, peaceful time of rest within our family. But I believe that there are those of you following this blog that can benefit from some of the experiences we have had.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, Emma was the promise fulfilled, Jacob, Samara, Josiah, and "X" are the answers to my prayers never spoken. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXt2xk42WQ6rpOL2V717AoHmbrAvwZ3AxkpY3c8hoew7tmuUndirCCkHln0T6PmCdZch93z6AIYr6CCtbe3yfm71dub-25TH5pxxKRd0uwRNAN3XFMKeC3Qct5ALWPbGVi9uWhEn2p6k/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXt2xk42WQ6rpOL2V717AoHmbrAvwZ3AxkpY3c8hoew7tmuUndirCCkHln0T6PmCdZch93z6AIYr6CCtbe3yfm71dub-25TH5pxxKRd0uwRNAN3XFMKeC3Qct5ALWPbGVi9uWhEn2p6k/s320/055.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"And now, O Lord, do as you have promised concerning me and my family. May it be a promise that will last forever. And may your name be established and honored forever so that all the world will say, 'The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!'" 1 Chronicles 17:23-24</span>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-37262766401413471992010-07-08T21:41:00.000-07:002010-07-08T21:42:06.390-07:00Promises, promises, promises....<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God's word is full of them. Because I believe it when the Bible says in Hebrews 4:12 <em>"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart",</em> I believe that God is still in the business of promises. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Patrick and I were married ALMOST 17 years ago...anniversary coming up soon. We drove to Colorado Springs for our week long honeymoon. As we were driving along, we would come across the occasional rain shower. I remember one particular shower that produced a rainbow. We both noticed it's beauty and commented on how it seemed God was giving us our own little promise that He would never leave us as we walked this new marriage journey together. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I wish I knew where that picture was, but it's late and I'm not willing to go look for it in the dark closet after the spider incident last night. (Okay, since you asked...I got up for my "last time to the potty before I'm really asleep" and as I was walking back to bed, I stepped on a HUGE spider!! UGH!! And no husband here for me to wake up to take care of it!!! So, needless to say, I'm keeping my feet up off the floor this evening!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This afternoon, as I was listening to the radio in my truck (no Christian stations in Canada...at least where we were) the dj was talking about Eagles. She said that when a baby eagle, or "eaglet" is ready to hatch, he has to literally peck his way out of the eggshell. This can take up to 2-3 days. It takes consistency and determination. Can you imagine how tired he must get? Peck, peck, peck. He must do this all on his own. If any help is offered, he will die. See, during this difficult process of finding his way out of his shell and into this world, he is learning many things that will benefit him for survival. He MUST endure the process, the work, the suffering, or HE WILL DIE.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">As I listened to the dj talk about this, my first thought was about our Creator and the details that He orchestrates in order for these little birds to survive. Being a lover of details and organization, I am always amazed when God reveals Himself in the details. And how He created all of these little survival details for EACH species that He made. And each species has different survival details dependent upon where they live and what their environment will be. Are you amazed with me?? To be honest, I am not a bird lover. (Actually, I try to avoid them at all cost after an incident I had with a bird when Justin was a baby.) But really? All of these details and concern over a bird? The Bible says that God knows when a sparrow falls...but that His love for me is MUCH greater than that. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I don't even bat an eye at a dead bird...unless it's the one that knocked me into the garage and then I would have considered that a victory!! But God knows. He knows the number of hairs on my head, which has always amazed me because every hair stylist I've ever gone to has said I have more hair than anyone they've ever seen. Maybe He loves me more than you! KIDDING!!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">God created those silly little eaglets. He gave them the rules and the struggles. If they go against the rules and the lessons they need to learn, they will die. And He is with them always. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">God created silly little me. He gave me rules and struggles. If I go against the rules and the lessons that I need to learn, I will die. He is with me always.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This past week as I joined my husband in Canada, I was able to capture this:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was really unaware as I was taking this picture of the beauty and symbolism it would have for me until later as I was looking back on the day. Our lives are full of beauty, such as the falls here at Niagara. Our lives are also full of crashing waves, such as the boat is experiencing here at the bottom of the beautiful falls. In our lives, we are just trying to hang onto the boat and not get too wet, or worse, fall off. And then, just when we think we can't hold on any longer, we look up and there's the promise. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I will never leave you or forsake you </span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are mine and you're My child </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can lay your head upon My shoulder </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let your tears fall down on Me </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love you more than you could ever know </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's true </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that's the way it will always be </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So don't you worry anymore" ("Lullaby" by Go Fish)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For the past (almost) two years, I feel like I've been hanging onto that boat in the bottom of that basin while the waves came crashing down and the power of the falls creating those waves never ends!! But the promise remained...God was with me. God is with me. God WILL be with me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I stand before you today (well, actually I'm sort of reclining back on my pillows on my bed) testifying that these promises are true. And I also know that God cannot break His promises...they are forever true!!</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I guess I just needed a reminder (the rainbow) that God is still with me...just like He promised.</span>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-73823901107030883502010-07-05T19:45:00.000-07:002010-07-05T19:45:12.795-07:00Oh, Canada!!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, here I sit, on my last full day in Canada. Patrick is finishing up at work so we can go out one more time before I leave. He is here in Toronto, working for two weeks. I was fortunate to be able to come and join him for a week! We have never done anything like this, nor have I ever left my kids for more than 4 days...and I can count on 3 fingers how many times we've done that! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Patrick and I have not been away since before Jacob died. It was time. I was really looking forward to spending some time in the hotel room by myself, while Patrick worked. Fortunately for us, July 1 was Canada Day, so Patrick was off more than we had planned while I am here. It has been an amazing trip, but now I am ready to be home with my kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">While sharing some of my experiences and thoughts about Canada, I will attempt to entertain you with some pictures of our trip. Hopefully they won't bore you, although I can't make any promises. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This was only my third time on an airplane and my first time on an airplane by myself. It was quite an experience, but if you aren't afraid to ask for directions, it's all good. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlnh8_ttYq1rhC9oLZsRH1DwP3TrvdfH9Wca0lfT51FfjZVl_YJbsqegVnIIGIzAjNZj6jeQdHgVn3SlY9CG8vF4HkMG7hS_6VclitHk0ow3Oz4j8WSo9KCq-z7OcpMf3KXJxOOoIhRY/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlnh8_ttYq1rhC9oLZsRH1DwP3TrvdfH9Wca0lfT51FfjZVl_YJbsqegVnIIGIzAjNZj6jeQdHgVn3SlY9CG8vF4HkMG7hS_6VclitHk0ow3Oz4j8WSo9KCq-z7OcpMf3KXJxOOoIhRY/s400/028.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here, I look like your typical tourist. Nice. We were in downtown Toronto, heading toward the CN Tower. There are MANY people here and they are walking all over the place. They have a very impressive bus/train system, along with a subway system. It's not scary downtown...we didn't really see any homeless or drug addicted people. I found that to be odd. We walked and walked and walked. I noticed that there was food everywhere...I mean EVERYWHERE! Anything you wanted to eat. What I also noticed was the lack of obese people? I am assuming that the walking everywhere would account for that. Don't ask me why I noticed this...I was probably thinking about how there is no way I could walk all the time while on the other hand, if I walked all the time maybe I could lose this 10 year old baby belly?? Random thoughts of a tourist...just sayin.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4y2lvb6gJkuo__sf-LOEsJMjAaCcOKWsDdAZxcEaAtJSOOE6mv82BKkRTUQoGmrKa_CMeDBNqJKNF99qG9pna8dp50zvoku3fBIA3z8QvwkSmS8y7vLT7HcVQ8If-Au1s5hOoETwkCF4/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4y2lvb6gJkuo__sf-LOEsJMjAaCcOKWsDdAZxcEaAtJSOOE6mv82BKkRTUQoGmrKa_CMeDBNqJKNF99qG9pna8dp50zvoku3fBIA3z8QvwkSmS8y7vLT7HcVQ8If-Au1s5hOoETwkCF4/s640/099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is a picture of my foot, as I fake step onto a glass bottom floor about a million feet above the ground. I'm not really afraid of heights. I mean, if you say "Hey, let's climb up to the top of that building", I would say, "okay, let's go". It doesn't scare me to think about being up high...BUT...once I get to a certain point, my body turns on me and I find myself hanging on the the side of the wall, or crawling on my knees...something attractive and non-embarassing like that. SO, I was really looking forward to going up the CN Tower. We were told we HAD to see it and I really wanted to. But once I got up there, my body stopped cooperating. It's the weirdest thing ever because my brain is saying "Hey...step onto the glass and take a cool picture" and my body is saying "Hey brain, are you smokin crack?? There's no way in Canada that I'm steppin onto that piece of glass there." So, I gave Patrick the camera and enjoyed what I could. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">After the tower, we had dinner downtown. Something else I noticed very quickly was even though there were a ton of people, and many families, we did not see any the first day with more than two children. I found that very interesting. Although I can see where maneuvering around town would be very tough with 8 children, I still thought it was odd. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Another thing was the way the parents treated the children...and vice versa. The children are running things here in Canada. (Okay...let me stop here...these are just my observations stemming from the limited time I have been here. I am no expert and think there must be different areas of Canada where things might be different?) Anyway, we were eating dinner and there were two couples sitting next to us with 3 children. The little girl was probably 2 1/2 and the boys were probably 4 and 10. The little girl started running in circles around the table, squealing as she went. (My kids aren't allowed to get out of their seat at a restaurant, much less run around the tables.) The waiters and waitresses were having trouble delivering food and drinks due to this little girl. Finally, the dad hollered at her to stop screaming and as he did, he was removing his big expensive camera out of her stroller. My thought? "Oh good...he's gonna strap her in." NOPE!!! The man started taking a massive amount of pictures of this little girl running around the restaurant screaming! PICTURES!!!! OH. MY. PEPSI!!!! I was in shock. Something else I noticed is that the parents rarely yell at these kids....mostly because they just give in. It was amazing. I found myself wanting to spank a bunch of kids AND parents!!! UGH!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfbOnhMCm8e-MX3B_FUpZ_Sf7W3SujcVhkdlM5OttUq2W-_u5cRdAI4Mw-7s3-jZmZiWySK51sI6JSsUFgNExPbStb7VuzOxYYMhOPTvkRxAcy575uz9O-5n201DiSaYmUco0jTfP-es/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfbOnhMCm8e-MX3B_FUpZ_Sf7W3SujcVhkdlM5OttUq2W-_u5cRdAI4Mw-7s3-jZmZiWySK51sI6JSsUFgNExPbStb7VuzOxYYMhOPTvkRxAcy575uz9O-5n201DiSaYmUco0jTfP-es/s320/106.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is what I dreamed of doing...absolutely nothing!! Actually, my plan was to do some digital scrapbooking, which I did, but Patrick kept me pretty busy, so I didn't have as much time by myself as I had planned. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my man and wouldn't have it any other way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is my man...in front of our castle...ummm...Canada's Casa Loma. (A girl can dream, right??) We toured this magnificent castle built a very long time ago. (notice how I can't remember any details?? If you are interested in knowing more about this castle, may I suggest google?) It was really cool. As we were driving to get to the castle, our GPS took us through some neighborhoods and I am fascinated with the way people live in other places. (Maybe it's the builder's daughter in me...) The houses were so close together. The majority of the homes are 10+ story apartment/condos. It was very strange coming from Oklahoma. I remember when they built a 3 story apartment building on the southside and I thought that was so cool! LOL! I guess because of the number of people here, they have to build UP. The prices for housing here are insane, also. Again, I understand I was born and bred in Oklahoma and after being here for a week, I truly believe God puts us exactly where He wants us! When Patrick and I got married, our first apartment was about 700 square feet and we paid about $400 a month for that one bedroom thing. Here (and yes, I know it's almost 17 years later) for that same size apartment, you will pay around $1500. A house half the size of mine, built on a 5500 sq ft lot will cost you about half a million dollars. It just amazes me. i wonder what they would think if they came to west OKC and looked around. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Oh...another interesting thing we noticed...compact cars everywhere. I can count on one hand how many pick up trucks we have seen and not ONE large SUV. Well, we did see one on the way to Niagara Falls, but when it passed us, it was from Pennsylvania. Mini vans are the largest vehicle you will see. Is it a rule or something??? It just seemed so weird. My big truck would never fit into the parking spots here.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FIi1ACM33S68PPxY-epvRhQ_Wx-S3WjWGcSQuqaxIMBhqgPMnI_ZZT0DWQSCVxQ9TSqKHWkuQV6IcBJ9dNtIAfr7omtHPgXNn7HLhAzika31g-Gbt-q7O_OcxumNEwoDpDSxwggpQwc/s1600/Tracy+and+the+Knight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FIi1ACM33S68PPxY-epvRhQ_Wx-S3WjWGcSQuqaxIMBhqgPMnI_ZZT0DWQSCVxQ9TSqKHWkuQV6IcBJ9dNtIAfr7omtHPgXNn7HLhAzika31g-Gbt-q7O_OcxumNEwoDpDSxwggpQwc/s400/Tracy+and+the+Knight.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This picture is from the castle, also, but I couldn't get it to move up to the castle portion of my post.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqzKArZyduxdFc9SSsnAYybFHQcrjEY25yJC5DQtxXdB05tvEQ1rNU2SmBVa93KlH65txpE0ogPCSIcbTXYGWLKNizXEfdzezA1JiJze9ASadRsMPh6EsNeMjqaUkAVHPKf6VIMQORVE/s1600/154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqzKArZyduxdFc9SSsnAYybFHQcrjEY25yJC5DQtxXdB05tvEQ1rNU2SmBVa93KlH65txpE0ogPCSIcbTXYGWLKNizXEfdzezA1JiJze9ASadRsMPh6EsNeMjqaUkAVHPKf6VIMQORVE/s400/154.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEg947IkysNwBqfrf0MceKRK2w09APihzIWSxdPRIEhty_w8mq9Kxo56ZCDaJHjW41IlxW1J1SfmsJ5LKVI9p4kwQvTOiZFrX_djxDPMtA4bBYl5wjqkYt1_E25RmnwPd8LadxIRWMhKs/s1600/106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEg947IkysNwBqfrf0MceKRK2w09APihzIWSxdPRIEhty_w8mq9Kxo56ZCDaJHjW41IlxW1J1SfmsJ5LKVI9p4kwQvTOiZFrX_djxDPMtA4bBYl5wjqkYt1_E25RmnwPd8LadxIRWMhKs/s400/106.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The pictures above are from Niagara Falls. There were a TON of people there, but that didn't keep us from enjoying the awesomeness of God's creation!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, for now, I will wrap this up as I need to get my stuff packed for my trip home tomorrow. So long, Toronto!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzgbNN-Ja2yzIKQYi_DMCAUBJqnru8ZA2YdAvNPklQMX5207MZsfvLufbZanmZQmgexgMygDWqTY2EllBqTtriuL17flHUYT-vpx8E0h1n5fd01s2si5bN5mNf1sRNkw-uAmU21FRrJ4/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzgbNN-Ja2yzIKQYi_DMCAUBJqnru8ZA2YdAvNPklQMX5207MZsfvLufbZanmZQmgexgMygDWqTY2EllBqTtriuL17flHUYT-vpx8E0h1n5fd01s2si5bN5mNf1sRNkw-uAmU21FRrJ4/s320/076.JPG" /></a></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-70610314465063816062010-06-25T09:22:00.000-07:002010-06-25T09:24:23.247-07:00"You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgL1adUqUv4nwygq-FXxR803AglkCMvMm6kcFzaKq9XW52Fjawn6UrLrJ6P03Gs5SEQFtssLwQrvgQhEKnsT9EhZ2U_X4SnhhUXsXyJghksMPHjcl_8qr_v7c1yul4Ip8IZdWzms-LGMY/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgL1adUqUv4nwygq-FXxR803AglkCMvMm6kcFzaKq9XW52Fjawn6UrLrJ6P03Gs5SEQFtssLwQrvgQhEKnsT9EhZ2U_X4SnhhUXsXyJghksMPHjcl_8qr_v7c1yul4Ip8IZdWzms-LGMY/s320/003.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Psalm 139:13-18 (New Living Translation)</em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>and knit me together in my mother’s womb.</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>You saw me before I was born.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Every day of my life was recorded in your book.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Every moment was laid out</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>before a single day had passed.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>How precious are your thoughts about me,[a] O God.</em></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>They cannot be numbered!</em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>I can’t even count them;</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>they outnumber the grains of sand!</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>And when I wake up,</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>you are still with me!</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every day I wake up thanking God for the blessings He has given me. And yet, why me? I don't deserve anything, much less these children that He has given me to raise up in the admonition of the Lord. That is a HUGE calling...one that I'm afraid I fail at quite often. Some days I feel like the ONLY time I am doing any good for these children is while we are all sleeping!</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Yet He chose me anyway. In willingness, He will give ability I suppose. I get told all the time how well behaved my children are, and I don't say that to brag. They are children after all...MY children! They have a LOT going against them in that regard!! And I don't feel like I have necessarily "raised them right". But for the grace of God...</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">What I have tried to always do is make them aware of those around them. When we go anywhere, people look at us. Why wouldn't you? We are a freak show to so many! If I weren't me, I'd look and stare! (Side note: I have those little stick people on the back of my truck...10 of them so far...and quite frequently, I'll have someone who was behind me, speed up to go around me, only to slow down when they get to my window as they want to see who this crazy person is with all these kids! I always hope that I am not what they expected.)</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to my kiddos. I have always stressed that there are many of us, so we need not get in other people's way. At the grocery store, they have been trained to walk on one side of the aisle, behind my cart. If you are 2-3 or younger, you ride in the cart. When you turn 3-4, you are promoted to holding the side of the cart. When you turn 5-6, then you are promoted again to walking behind me with the big kids. (Samara was recently promoted and she is SO proud!) I don't want my big family to ever be a bother. I teach my children that nobody else should be able to hear their conversation in the store. If you are talking to your brother, standing right next to you, I shouldn't be able to hear you. We strive to stay out of the way of others and to be a blessing, not a bother. Many times I will turn around to find one of my big boys not with us...they will have stopped to hold a door open for others...without me asking them to! Those instances thrill my heart. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Lest you start cussing me, we are ALWAYS in training!! I don't know that there is ever a time that we go through the store without me having to say "Where are you supposed to be?" or "I shouldn't be able to hear you." When we get in the checkout line, my kids unload the carts (yes, I said CARTS...plural!) and then reload the bags. They help load the truck and then do all the unloading and putting away of the groceries. They have become quite efficient with the process. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, we get through the grocery store without issue, almost always. (And yes, I almost always take all 8 children with me to the store to do our bi-weekly shopping...can't train them if they aren't with you!) But so what? Does it really make a difference that your children are well behaved if they don't have eternal salvation? Sure, it makes it a lot easier to take your kids places, but really? All of that daily training is pointless if I forget the most important training of all...the indescribable love and salvation of our Heavenly Father. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I have this verse posted in our school room: <em>"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 1:4 </em>Isn't that the truth? But it doesn't just happen. It is our responsibility as parents of the children God has given to us to TEACH them...to "train up a child in the way he should go". This was not an "if you feel like it, would you tell your kids a little bit about me?" Nope...it is a COMMAND...whether you feel like it or not. You love your kids more than anything, right? Then shouldn't teaching them about Christ be at the very top of your to do list? (I may start stepping on some toes here...please know that I am not just talking to you, but as I type these words, God is totally speaking to my own heart.) Tell me what will be more important in eternity: that your child was the best softball player on the team, even though you had to miss church for most of his games, or that your child is walking in the truth? Now, I'm not saying that you can't be a good Christian AND play sports...I just used that one as an example...I don't even personally know anyone who does this...I promise! What I'm trying to say is that GOD should be at the top of our to do list. (Or for my homeschooling friends, at the top of your curriculum list!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">On June 13, 2010, we had Emma Claire dedicated at our church. I needed to get it done as quickly as possible...it's a stupid little fear that I know is totally ridiculous, but I waited two weeks to have Jacob dedicated...he died the day before his dedication. I also know that you don't HAVE to have your child dedicated in order for them to spend their eternity with the Savior. Our dedications are just that...we as parents, and the church, are dedicating this child to the Lord, and promising to train them in the teaching of the Lord. <em>"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4</em></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." Psalm 139:23-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word">24</span></em></span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L5O32U69hzIL8B4YP7SV_e5gNcBtYUBnClfMP6h9wTnFM_-lu24bOwZPtxW_sHzF6qzynegxZ-5ZyzZCfJPyUlbE7mLJBp7p5H5WKOgFlM9P_qShnzFn5GdERJffAHtOrgKfCecui4Y/s1600/020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L5O32U69hzIL8B4YP7SV_e5gNcBtYUBnClfMP6h9wTnFM_-lu24bOwZPtxW_sHzF6qzynegxZ-5ZyzZCfJPyUlbE7mLJBp7p5H5WKOgFlM9P_qShnzFn5GdERJffAHtOrgKfCecui4Y/s320/020.jpg" /></a></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-78911854877672396362010-06-13T20:25:00.000-07:002010-06-13T20:32:23.732-07:00"How happy are those who fear the Lord...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>all who follow His ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How happy you will be! How rich your life? Your life will be like a fruitful vine, flourishing within your home. And look at all those children!! There they sit around your table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees. That is the Lord's reward for those who fear Him." Psalm 128:1-4</em></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuANwmvWOECx8h4bhNaEKvcEAXBv4OS8xE1YaL5ByDTH7Zyk7udvs4y3iXWtXG1AR5BtrI6PaPsSv1YWpXPrcI91-UkIHD-3M9eM3LmFok30YjF5oYGkiQcEm1Ds22XP_n_B8XvqYEFSc/s1600/family+photo+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuANwmvWOECx8h4bhNaEKvcEAXBv4OS8xE1YaL5ByDTH7Zyk7udvs4y3iXWtXG1AR5BtrI6PaPsSv1YWpXPrcI91-UkIHD-3M9eM3LmFok30YjF5oYGkiQcEm1Ds22XP_n_B8XvqYEFSc/s400/family+photo+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I promised you details about Emma's "gotcha" day, so here we go. But first, I want to give you a little background as to the court process when it involves DHS foster care and adoption. When you adopt privately/through an agency, you are given a finalization date, you show up, and that's that. Now, sometimes, depending upon the situation, you might have </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">been to the same judge when the birth parents relinquished. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In DHS court, under normal circumstances, you have been going to court with/for your foster children for 6 months to 3 or 4 years. You and the court go through a LOT together. Even if you haven't had the child very long (much like Emma's case) or you are doing straight adoption, in most cases the judge has been involved in the child's life since they came into care. These judges love to see these cases played out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In our case, not only had the judge been overseeing Emma's case for 10 months, but he was also the judge in Jacob's case. Jacob was one of Judge Kirby's first cases when he moved to the juvenile court. And for some reason, Jacob touched that courtroom and those who worked there. I have no idea why, but they were all very fond of him. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiIZYNuEdDjn9JV0mBsCed1-1-P_YVd1u-pPRS5nIqe205exKeOumCiuzJg1SskgMoCs__tFGpIOE55sAjqWvq1j3MAaV3_mInflLZBrKtxbzzIx4E94DLrISNwvK7QevWR7jfA3iLog/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiIZYNuEdDjn9JV0mBsCed1-1-P_YVd1u-pPRS5nIqe205exKeOumCiuzJg1SskgMoCs__tFGpIOE55sAjqWvq1j3MAaV3_mInflLZBrKtxbzzIx4E94DLrISNwvK7QevWR7jfA3iLog/s400/011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, Thursday morning (very early for us) we all piled into Judge Kirby's courtroom at 9am. It was just our immediate family's, but 18 people crowded in front of the bench looks like a bunch! Judge Kirby made sure everyone felt welcome at the bench. We chatted for a minute while waiting on one of the DHS workers. (HaHa...such irony.) And then Judge Kirby swore us all in...even the little kids! Our attorney questioned us as to why we wanted to adopt Emma, was it in the best interest of her and our family, etc. (All the while, she was beaming from ear to ear!) At one point, she asked if Emma had attached to us since coming to live with us and then she laughed and said, "Well, I see that she has!" It was very obvious in the courtroom that Emma was already a part of this family. And then it was done. The judge ordered it and congratulated us all. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">But then...he looked at me and said, "How have you been doing. Are you doing okay?" I told him that we were actually doing very well, but I appreciated his concern. And he said, "Well, I pray for you...all of you (pointing to our entire family). You are a special family to this courtroom." I promised to keep him updated on our family and send pictures often. (The judges LOVE pictures.) When I send Judge Kirby pictures from the day, I think I will send him the story behind our Emma. (Oh...did I mention that Judge Kirby goes to church where ChildSHARE offices out of? Yeah, small world!)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXy1VNX-pVK5Jj5JZHhz9VDezmwYDS7DguqDy1Ps7v7_VvoLsLFnftVkDyVI8qkeLHpv0ce2M6kOlDqLzFoO1vRlAy4WslJGzRQFCmNHXg-_GcD3BDyS1WJ5iKKjurbldaftKKP8mvi3E/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXy1VNX-pVK5Jj5JZHhz9VDezmwYDS7DguqDy1Ps7v7_VvoLsLFnftVkDyVI8qkeLHpv0ce2M6kOlDqLzFoO1vRlAy4WslJGzRQFCmNHXg-_GcD3BDyS1WJ5iKKjurbldaftKKP8mvi3E/s400/002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We shook hands and walked out of the courtroom. And she was ours. Emma Claire Phillips. God's promise had come to fruition. God's faithfulness shown through in that courtroom. And 10 minutes later, our attorney handed us the papers that make it all official...the adopton decree. What a perfect end to such an </span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">eloquently orchestrated </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">promise that came from an awesome God!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And then we were off to the lake to celebrate!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChABUGmD-jNKhiK0ZhbDfxvfkOXlnZV1CTliN0HMUC6vCeZWXJ5lOWIJnk75hMO4rPD_lr4oh2NAZVlREhXC3gjUc9jDwM00JGtT08x52zfbpoPH1Ufy-Zqu4EU800DK_8yXj1MLJfRc/s1600/Phillips+Family+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChABUGmD-jNKhiK0ZhbDfxvfkOXlnZV1CTliN0HMUC6vCeZWXJ5lOWIJnk75hMO4rPD_lr4oh2NAZVlREhXC3gjUc9jDwM00JGtT08x52zfbpoPH1Ufy-Zqu4EU800DK_8yXj1MLJfRc/s400/Phillips+Family+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>"Oh Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill Your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and keep your commands." Daniel 9:4</em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>"Surely the Lord has done great things! Don't be afraid, my people! Be glad now and rejoice because the Lord has done great things!" Joel 2:20b-21</em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3ZhLVRr_NCYjNjdIZWJ2DC-wARsl2awOh-hUSf9Jxq-3OqcjCZla2K4GlfevgQP_GoYYFXJKRZxqcVI2wC1UECrRD0tY6yu7mN06QveB2MJMxDNxnw5GE-pU9eKb02fZu4gLu-07sQI/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3ZhLVRr_NCYjNjdIZWJ2DC-wARsl2awOh-hUSf9Jxq-3OqcjCZla2K4GlfevgQP_GoYYFXJKRZxqcVI2wC1UECrRD0tY6yu7mN06QveB2MJMxDNxnw5GE-pU9eKb02fZu4gLu-07sQI/s400/104.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7pCK4xRr7ob7XD9xOku25WP8Z46PqIlbtzzwBL5e3GM3Me1gpUQCNQyaM607UNzRHq1MeAc46hqCtuEaX-wIrZcmUvy375iaL3_EXCTkQ1UlsEzv5XNyK9e99gOtNYu-X2BfKOpIQgo/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7pCK4xRr7ob7XD9xOku25WP8Z46PqIlbtzzwBL5e3GM3Me1gpUQCNQyaM607UNzRHq1MeAc46hqCtuEaX-wIrZcmUvy375iaL3_EXCTkQ1UlsEzv5XNyK9e99gOtNYu-X2BfKOpIQgo/s400/128.JPG" width="400" /></a>.</div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-32155223243169324472010-06-13T16:50:00.000-07:002010-06-13T16:50:14.138-07:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>"For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." Psalm 33:4, 10-11 </em></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyucGbjqcePgO2vSXNsSfpBMIJiIyfg-RbMRfzwDOTAGh-djlz7vuZpA778U1Ddgfn8aNCjzSMWHc5HEA7Bd7EXJNy4vGDI5viC7vPbmK3IAfqMxrxLc9QN_Tyh8QcS70pLSHcJm_b9hY/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyucGbjqcePgO2vSXNsSfpBMIJiIyfg-RbMRfzwDOTAGh-djlz7vuZpA778U1Ddgfn8aNCjzSMWHc5HEA7Bd7EXJNy4vGDI5viC7vPbmK3IAfqMxrxLc9QN_Tyh8QcS70pLSHcJm_b9hY/s400/007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember that time when I wrote about <a href="http://blessedandreblessed.blogspot.com/p/previous-posts-of-note.html">this?</a> Well, I still have this can of formula sitting on my tv stand in my bedroom as a constant reminder of God and His promises. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A year ago this week, I posted this picture:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeK_zsEVv0rIRGWhvMCVFwJ7geSm8IK-ctBNcJHeO4BlTvqKzVYZkd3gqEMFj4CwxcsgnyS0rp4qxqGg5PWWvbB2_ILcEt5xFaLeNigiGmlyCVblYfNl8XqHRDEbOwU-53u_0ZR4pMzo0/s1600/FRANKLIN_27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeK_zsEVv0rIRGWhvMCVFwJ7geSm8IK-ctBNcJHeO4BlTvqKzVYZkd3gqEMFj4CwxcsgnyS0rp4qxqGg5PWWvbB2_ILcEt5xFaLeNigiGmlyCVblYfNl8XqHRDEbOwU-53u_0ZR4pMzo0/s320/FRANKLIN_27.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We found out on June 13, 2009, that we were indeed going to be adopting a baby girl! God was granting me the desires of my heart. Now, if you have been reading this blog very long, you already know that we did not end up adopting this baby at birth, as was planned. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Today, June 13, 2010, we had this same baby, Emma Claire, dedicated at our church. God's plans CANNOT be thwarted. Even when everything around us looks as though it's going in a different direction than what we thought should happen, even then, God's plans CANNOT be thwarted. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQ-8LJjDHzw9cMnG4aumhuFNdGXPbZIMhpEcFDIdoVvMMAuWn3ah5yjEJ2wgD9zuxW-QrzKPm7kJG5rBW1_G0OD-q2itlGogwBUOAM238JwM_52Hm5UM3Xz3MU0UN3jShAQpXfHvRbK0/s1600/Emma+and+the+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQ-8LJjDHzw9cMnG4aumhuFNdGXPbZIMhpEcFDIdoVvMMAuWn3ah5yjEJ2wgD9zuxW-QrzKPm7kJG5rBW1_G0OD-q2itlGogwBUOAM238JwM_52Hm5UM3Xz3MU0UN3jShAQpXfHvRbK0/s400/Emma+and+the+flower.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cannot put into words the feelings that I have toward this baby that God has given to us. I am not sure how it is when you finalize a private adoption, but when you finalize an adoption after having the child in your home as a foster placement, the relief, the joy, the connections, they don't just happen as you walk out of the courtroom. There is this wall that you put up...maybe a better explanation would be a wall of layers. With a foster child</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, the goal is reunification. A child can be in your home for 3-4 years with a goal of reunification. That's a long time. That's a LOT of layers on your wall. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I remember after Jacob's adoption was finalized, I thought all those walls had been torn down. After all, we had known for 10 months that we would be adopting him. His case was easy, nobody contesting anything, no worries. But not until the Judge signed the papers did that final wall come down. It was a wall I didn't even know existed. He was all ours. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">That's what I am starting to feel with Emma. She is ALL ours. It's done. The walls have come down. I can now let myself love her completely. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>"You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!" Psalm 139:5-6</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13hn1_mLXtlGlzV9LAxVFV-bffvg7-4OXJm_D2cd6qeuSw9KwJxtEc5oJkfYojeTRsnfrGYBhBq7AGwFa72yWEqR0oj6pwv8_aGZ2ghPvJkzuumEXjFcqnIBsA4ofKsu3SI2Tpc2F2LM/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13hn1_mLXtlGlzV9LAxVFV-bffvg7-4OXJm_D2cd6qeuSw9KwJxtEc5oJkfYojeTRsnfrGYBhBq7AGwFa72yWEqR0oj6pwv8_aGZ2ghPvJkzuumEXjFcqnIBsA4ofKsu3SI2Tpc2F2LM/s400/004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XG-zqt3Ik8oV3UE-VYII7hkSkc-ZCuKpSXm5Hp7P82-SibvR3zbbuS2ORCkjp7uNNQGbDGN0eTXn-y2X-ZpXcCXUh1L27L5flWxHZA7r-X2RuTDMLx2bFG7nrEKV1QI56nm4yJ12uLk/s1600/Adoption+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XG-zqt3Ik8oV3UE-VYII7hkSkc-ZCuKpSXm5Hp7P82-SibvR3zbbuS2ORCkjp7uNNQGbDGN0eTXn-y2X-ZpXcCXUh1L27L5flWxHZA7r-X2RuTDMLx2bFG7nrEKV1QI56nm4yJ12uLk/s400/Adoption+Day.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-32800122622706070272010-06-10T20:26:00.000-07:002010-06-10T20:54:43.932-07:00IT'S OFFICIAL!!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are very blessed to announce (again) this addition to our family:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqd-aIBZRjDetthwS7vP7SigGfEJ9jUjMmjRlj1LrGWBQmkOQFy0EadGamruKhNqPRIAv_TL-VAOPvCQeEFLu8Oa-zKrse4BPNibDNaikK-GkGL9pHRY8RVZDibRepF1TwW5fU268gW0E/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqd-aIBZRjDetthwS7vP7SigGfEJ9jUjMmjRlj1LrGWBQmkOQFy0EadGamruKhNqPRIAv_TL-VAOPvCQeEFLu8Oa-zKrse4BPNibDNaikK-GkGL9pHRY8RVZDibRepF1TwW5fU268gW0E/s400/050.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><em> Emma Claire PHILLIPS!!! </em></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I promise to tell you all the details....tomorrow! I am beat as we spent the day celebrating at the lake. It was such a wonderful day. Thank you will never be enough for all the prayers and support!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Psalm 126</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,</em></span></div><em>it was like a dream!</em><em><br />
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<em>We were filled with laughter,</em><br />
<em>and we sang for joy.</em><br />
<em>And the other nations said,</em><br />
<em>“What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”</em><br />
<em> Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!</em><br />
<em>What joy!</em><br />
<em>Restore our fortunes, Lord,</em><br />
<em>as streams renew the desert.</em><br />
<em> Those who plant in tears</em><br />
<em>will harvest with shouts of joy.</em><br />
<em> They weep as they go to plant their seed,</em><em><br />
</em><em>but they sing as they return with the harvest.</em><br />
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Amen!mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-4550696122571225752010-06-04T21:24:00.000-07:002010-06-04T21:24:34.400-07:00Just an FYI...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those of you who have my blog listed on your blog, don't forget to change the address.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Also...because I like to know who my friends are, will you "click" to follow me just down to your right?? THANK YOU!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And because we all love pictures...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MEsByjhtb95CinubvGYNo4YqxMJ1s650vUywnNkgZilU6xBJX1toNzDANOzrUTat1adldQTJAhNmjn8RGHWioUsHebHNPmNjyZoODF0s84dWBkL9uxEHT4mS5yqL6XsIHU1hwhsApO4/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MEsByjhtb95CinubvGYNo4YqxMJ1s650vUywnNkgZilU6xBJX1toNzDANOzrUTat1adldQTJAhNmjn8RGHWioUsHebHNPmNjyZoODF0s84dWBkL9uxEHT4mS5yqL6XsIHU1hwhsApO4/s320/012.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He found this underwear and thought it was a hat? He needs more toys.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-Spylijpi1UJl_XDuretAa3NXYO_NHz9Y8pCvoZZEV0B_SbSq1M7QSeOUBCVbeOtZpkS6mZxCxK-h0lA1CZcgBdzsUqOLziZHTIFqZEsBEhP52mVvuCYVnAoVbKdPhBuh0gAJQ2Q320/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-Spylijpi1UJl_XDuretAa3NXYO_NHz9Y8pCvoZZEV0B_SbSq1M7QSeOUBCVbeOtZpkS6mZxCxK-h0lA1CZcgBdzsUqOLziZHTIFqZEsBEhP52mVvuCYVnAoVbKdPhBuh0gAJQ2Q320/s320/027.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Oh no you didn't!!!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ2iIisINCazbCxD46Xc0q393GEHlp9SDhR2T7dtLOEWZqMJahU_FSXIJ016Cg256cnRrjsy8UNk6f29k7jehz5yd8Acjq-rKuzIWcR6Y6FnsidSavS4XDtxPgl_zeHwj9y5DXFfcrS8/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ2iIisINCazbCxD46Xc0q393GEHlp9SDhR2T7dtLOEWZqMJahU_FSXIJ016Cg256cnRrjsy8UNk6f29k7jehz5yd8Acjq-rKuzIWcR6Y6FnsidSavS4XDtxPgl_zeHwj9y5DXFfcrS8/s320/043.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the little old black lady that lives at our house!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheesin' it up with daddy....whose name she can say by the way...but I'm not bitter.</span></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-32305729747067922602010-06-03T21:05:00.000-07:002011-05-02T19:26:03.108-07:00New Blog...go here...<a href="http://www.blessedandreblessed.blogspot.com/">http://www.blessedandreblessed.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Just in case you've been waiting for me here, I'm not here anymore...I'm there! :)mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192318247046199598.post-6454064633617778312010-06-03T17:52:00.000-07:002010-06-03T17:58:33.579-07:00On May 28, 2009...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I realize I should have posted this on May 28, 2010, but I didn't. So there.)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is what I underlined in my Bible:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>"My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. When will you comfort me? I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, exhausted with the waiting. But I cling to your principles and obey them. How long must I wait?" Psalm 119:82-84</em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The next day I wrote in my Bible "Esther called, 2009" I received a phone call that day that would not only keep me on my toes for the summer of 2009, but it would lead our Emma Claire to our home for good. The fruit of a promise God had given to me so many years before. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In 7 days, Emma Claire will officially be ours forever. No more DHS. No more waiting. No more wondering. June 10, 2010, will be a very exciting day for our family. It will forever be a reminder of what a faithful and loving God we serve. A God who hears our deepest desires...the very same God who placed those desires in us in the first place. A God who cares so much about the details of our waiting. A God who envelopes the prayers and praises of the people He has brought into our lives to pray right alongside us in this journey. What a might God we serve!!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I want to share something with you. As you know (or maybe you don't), Emma was in a regular foster care from the beginning of October 2009 until she came to our home on March 18, 2010. I can recall being in my bathtub so many times, praying for Emma's safety. Praying that she was being loved and taken care of. Praying that somehow, that first few days I spent with her would matter. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We belong to a group called ChildSHARE. It is a support group/recruitement for foster care. I have learned SO much from this group. They are a Christian group and are considered to be held to a higher standard of foster care than a regular foster home. (This isn't being ugly...it doesn't mean that if you are not a member, you are not a good home...not at all. It just means the support they offer allows you to be better and they don't just accept anybody.) Anyway, a couple of weeks after we got Emma, a friend of mine called and to make a very long, complicated story shorter, Emma was in another ChildSHARE foster home! You cannot even imagine how that soothed my soul, knowing without a doubt that she had been loved and taken care of. She had even been in the home of a friend of mine...we just didn't know! This all came out when my friend was showing her daughter pictures of Emma from my facebook. Her daughter started saying, "That's OUR Emma...mom...that's OUR Emma." Come to find out...it was!!! She sent me a wonderful gift last week...pictures of Emma when she was at their home, at about 6 months old. There are no words.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBWF83Q4PPOFiKdknWyWZQmkIRjYQ-XKb1p0p0aRg5oXlxBL6iZQCoY9uvOxCXQuYc2WJoOhYM8jfJkjsO1cBEDawI11VGsLNS7bHs77WXeufx4UnnA-GxgG9W0JeTQ9__qT6hyCTPmc/s1600/Emma+1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBWF83Q4PPOFiKdknWyWZQmkIRjYQ-XKb1p0p0aRg5oXlxBL6iZQCoY9uvOxCXQuYc2WJoOhYM8jfJkjsO1cBEDawI11VGsLNS7bHs77WXeufx4UnnA-GxgG9W0JeTQ9__qT6hyCTPmc/s320/Emma+1.bmp" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXziMJzhM_rh25r0mAJElWIinSIl3YlWYfOXjeBuLvB6eIzmwRYNPFhVOmnNGE2k55g4Gn0bgsg8-yIib4Cp2HRd6xMPlfxeKasdRis8WChtQ1y_RI9gbnMh_2srwiXrU1Z-VSWUr22EQ/s1600/Emma+4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXziMJzhM_rh25r0mAJElWIinSIl3YlWYfOXjeBuLvB6eIzmwRYNPFhVOmnNGE2k55g4Gn0bgsg8-yIib4Cp2HRd6xMPlfxeKasdRis8WChtQ1y_RI9gbnMh_2srwiXrU1Z-VSWUr22EQ/s320/Emma+4.bmp" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sX167KS3pVj4zd4GfPapVtU5T0BAsXkuWYNkSxY3IjNIt_axGwSSQuqAS40qDToUoU2mv_c5IzXhAvSbdLdOjcLFGRYXZ87VanlSsuuRvERG-efXWtWzwatotXrcZ6lqdfE7Bkqy4M4/s1600/Emma+3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sX167KS3pVj4zd4GfPapVtU5T0BAsXkuWYNkSxY3IjNIt_axGwSSQuqAS40qDToUoU2mv_c5IzXhAvSbdLdOjcLFGRYXZ87VanlSsuuRvERG-efXWtWzwatotXrcZ6lqdfE7Bkqy4M4/s320/Emma+3.bmp" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXcrRW9Z2kkBlk8H7N3VwE8yPeE_girvHuk66dWr6kyp1KCIu4_ZkGTk11FB-t0NKi4h5I599-BNdJaszXJ3JkaJCce5RS-BNqLiBRNTVeVCvhj57xc9XUfdMvc4EuP_PD52PnNsakjk/s1600/Emma+2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXcrRW9Z2kkBlk8H7N3VwE8yPeE_girvHuk66dWr6kyp1KCIu4_ZkGTk11FB-t0NKi4h5I599-BNdJaszXJ3JkaJCce5RS-BNqLiBRNTVeVCvhj57xc9XUfdMvc4EuP_PD52PnNsakjk/s320/Emma+2.bmp" /></a>See, God loves Emma even more than I do. And while I may never know all the reasons Emma didn't come home from the hospital with us when I thought she should, God still loved Emma. He prepared this foster home to be available to take her in for the time when she was away from us. He put MY friends in her path, to love on her and take care of her. He protected the mother/child relationship that began when Esther called me to take her baby. He caused things to happen within DHS that can be explained in no words other than "miracle". God did this. God promised He would do this. And He did it. God's plans cannot be thwarted. God cannot break a promise. It's not in His nature. He can't do it. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">"Thank you, Lord, for being exactly who You say You are...every single time." AMEN!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyo8LdRrwten7IAZZLy8gcNKerzVPQsCxhDaM1XLn8sbHjwAD5H5CfZ4C8b38feVmlYJKVSzPQEkL3BK1RkqrIcmAD8P6RRGvmClwXbCQ8fE5aiwjCUGswiN0V4qg1pp3rVsfNRtt19ck/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyo8LdRrwten7IAZZLy8gcNKerzVPQsCxhDaM1XLn8sbHjwAD5H5CfZ4C8b38feVmlYJKVSzPQEkL3BK1RkqrIcmAD8P6RRGvmClwXbCQ8fE5aiwjCUGswiN0V4qg1pp3rVsfNRtt19ck/s320/016.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcZdy7b1H6Wb2LPW_e5cQc00ms-iuW79WsTljNlVpJd4B_1gKn0FVm1o0QFKx4iQmgWmugz9STzKvubQ_0HNCTI-fNFql2WkvSXPPNcs1GlN7aKLkjEKbEFH6tF-Hyy6v7ans2eBIlkM/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcZdy7b1H6Wb2LPW_e5cQc00ms-iuW79WsTljNlVpJd4B_1gKn0FVm1o0QFKx4iQmgWmugz9STzKvubQ_0HNCTI-fNFql2WkvSXPPNcs1GlN7aKLkjEKbEFH6tF-Hyy6v7ans2eBIlkM/s320/017.JPG" /></a></div>mom2manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14721596524827848511noreply@blogger.com3