Keep 'em coming, friends!

Friends and Prayer Warriors,

Little Susannah and her family continue to need our prayers. Please, pray without ceasing. She has been in the hospital since she arrived home from China. As expected, she is confused and grieving the many losses in her little life. Now, with a catheter in place, she awaits open-heart surgery on Tuesday and we are praising God that she was a candidate for it!

Her Mom is sharing the journey with us so you can head to their blog by clicking HERE to read the details. Right now, we just continue to pray and to lift her up to the Lord.

Heavenly Father,

You gave this precious creation of Yours to this beautiful family to raise in Your name. Lord, we believe and have faith that you are the Great Physician and the Almighty Healer. No one knows sweet Susannah like you do, Father. No one could ever love her like you, Lord. Loving Savior, we lift her up to you as we pray and are convicted in our belief that she will be completely healed, in Your name.

We stand firm in Your word and in our faith that when two or more are gathered in Your name that You are present in their midst. Lord, we know you are by her side. Your children from all around the globe are praying for this sweet baby and for her family. Through history You've shown us that You are a sovereign and merciful God and You hear Your children's cries.

Thank you, Father God, for the gift of Your son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for His sacrifice on that cross and for allowing Him, Your only begotten Son, to shed His precious blood so that we can believe. We believe right here and now that Susannah will get through this. We pray to your Blessed Mother that she cradle sweet Susannah in her mantle and that Susannah begins to recognize the love that her Mama has for her. That she will bond with her Mama.

But most importantly Father, we believe that the surgery will be successful and that she will lead a healthy and happy life. We give You all the glory Lord, for we know that nothing is impossible with You, and we continue to praise and honor You in all we do.

In Your precious name we pray. Amen.

Ooohhhh!

Suzy entered my GIVEAWAY, so I went back to her site and noticed that she had a link for another giveaway from Cinnamon*Sticks Boutique. You must check out the beautiful stuff this girls got on her Etsy site. I love it!!

Ahhemm...Oh, Scott dear? Did you read that? Umm...Christmas is coming, darling.

IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!

I've never done this on my blog but know that many others do. It's such a great idea, especially because it's an incentive for those lurkers who I love hearing from to come out of hiding. This is your chance and you may just be a winner! Of course, my regular readers are invited (and expected) to join in the fun.

I've been thinking about what prize to give away. This is what I came up with. I've decided to give away something that has truly touched my heart. (Sorry, I'm not giving away the hubby or the kids).

This was the very first book that I read when we began our journey into the world of adoption. I was riveted to it and ended up reading the entire book in less than 3 days. I just could not put it down!


The Strength of Mercy tells the story of how God led the Beazely "family to Romania in search of one special child", and eventually to assist countless families in the same pursuit through their agency All God's Children International. They vividly share the heartaches and joys, along with the miracles that God created along the way.

At the time I read this book, I was ready to run with the baton even though I couldn't see the finish line. The book reminded me of the importance of waiting patiently on God. I know. Easier said than done. But, this family did just that, and God DID reveal his plans for them and accomplish His purposes, for His glory.

It is also a great example for us mothers. The author and her husband have to make some difficult parenting choices. The choices that they are faced with cause one to reflect on what our real goals are for our children. If they decide to break away from the plans that we had for them, will we be able to support them? To give them back to God when he calls them? The Beazely story is truly incredible, as Kay Arthur states in the forward: "There is something significant in this story for you!"

So, if you haven't read it and are ready to be moved to the core of your soul while following one special family's adoption journey, this is what you do. Leave me a comment (with an email address if you don't have a blog so I can contact you if you are winner). It's that easy! The giveaway ends on Friday, October 3rd, at midnight!

By the way, you will be receiving a brand, spankin' new copy that I have purchased, since I am not about to give away my copy. :0

I promise you that you will love the book! Good luck!

Thirty Months!

Dear AJ,
Oh, sweet boy. Today you are 30 months old and you've arrived going head-on, full blast as if you were breaking the record for the speed of light. If asked, and I'm sure the other two-thirds of your trio would agree, I am a horrible Mama at this stage of your life. I know. I don't love you. It's horrible that I don't let you have a bowl of M & M's for breakfast and worse yet, I have the audacity of picking you up and sitting you in time-out while you are killing, I mean playing, with the puppy by dragging him by the collar because you want him to "run with you". The horrors!

You don't understand why I don't appear to be whimsically in love with you when you turn on the kitchen faucet and spin it around so that the water is pouring on the counters as you casually walk away to go play with your dump truck. I know I would also lose a popularity contest with you when in a split second during those moments when for instance, I reach for a diaper to change you and you've managed to squirt out 2/3 of a bottle of lotion on the bed while my back is turned. I scowl at you. My grimacing look half-filled with amazement at your Superhero abilities and the other half at the mess I have to clean up.

I remember one day after walking into one of your mishaps (I think it was the day you spilled the gallon of vegetable oil on the kitchen floor) and saying as tears welled up in my eyes, "Dude! What have you done?" (mind you, I never say "dude"). You looked at me and said, "Dude, nothing!" as the oil dripped from your little fingers and your shirt was stuck to your body. I didn't know whether to laugh and cover you in kisses or whack your bottom.

You have erupted into the terrible two's with so much tenacity that many times I'm not sure who's the smarter one. I swear I could sign you up as a minnie MacGiver, since you can slip in and out of places unseen, even without a piece of chewing gum and a paper clip! Hindsight is 20/20, and I realize now that I neglected to ask your birth mom about this, but I just know that deep in there somewhere you must have some Houdini in your gene pool.

I'm not sure why, but I find that my maturity somehow eludes me when it comes to parenting you. While you nap, I often spend my mornings thinking about how I will outwit you. At times, I think I am a genius when I come up with a plan. I quietly (so you don't see it coming) high-five myself and dance around as if I've just been nominated for a Pulitzer prize, especially when I've devised a way to keep you out of the pantry or the art & crafts drawers filled with crayons, playdough and sidewalk chalk. Aaahh...yes, sidewalk chalk. Sidewalk chalk on the walls, furniture and TV, has developed into your weapon of choice lately. I digress. Only to find out a little later, that you've moved on to bigger and better things such as the CD rack or the junk drawer that you now easily reach. It's always something new and unexpected. You keep me on my toes.

At times, I think I could be doing something big to help improve the world we live in. Something to avoid disaster on earth. I think about the scientists out there researching if and when asteroids will be crashing into our planet. Then I stop and compare myself to them, and I realize that I am helping mankind. I am averting catastrophic destruction from occurring. How you may ask? By keeping you in check.

Although, I must admit that sometimes you have me questioning my sanity. When I walk into a room and find one of your creative endeavors I ask "Who did this, AJ?" It amazes me how without skipping a beat you say, "Kai" with such certainty that I had to stop and think if maybe, just maybe, Kai may have done it in the few minutes he had alone before school. I should know better. Finally, after intense interrogation, you break and say, "AJ do it. I sorry, Mama. I never do it ageen. I pomise." Then you stroke my face. Oh, how I wish you weren't so stinkin' cute!

But you know what? Even if you don't give me a break, even if you laugh in the face of danger, even if you think that you have Mama wrapped around your finger with those amazing eyes and bashful smile, I wouldn't change a thing. I love and melt when you raise your arms for me to pick you up and you snuggle your adorable, little face into my neck. I love feeling your warm breath against my skin and when you whisper "scatch me back, pleeze." I love your sweet, wet kisses. I love how the pouty lip forms when you speak to Anna Grace and she doesn't answer you. You rapidly walk over to me with that little spring in your step, arms folded, lips protruding, furrowed brows and loudly exclaim, "Anna Grace no love me, Mama!" You love to see me have her come over to you to hug you. Your face radiates love when she smiles and says, "I love you, A.J.", as she puts her arms around you. I love how you always give big bear hugs and never fail to say, "Awwww" as you squeeze the lucky recipient.

You are so compassionate. You can't stand hearing someone cough without running to them and tapping them on the chest while asking, "Are you OK? Are you OK?". You're the first one to run towards someone who is hurt and the first to say, "It's ok. No hurt." or "AJ kiss it better."

I can't believe that you are 30 months old. Two and a half! Where has time gone? I'm enjoying every second of being your Mama, but I so wish I could slow you down. Even if for just a bit. You are growing way to fast for me. Although you are and always will be my baby. I love you so much. Thank you. Thank you for always making me strive to be a better Mom. I may not be a perfect Mama, but you know what? I'm so glad I'm YOUR Mama and I'm never gonna stop loving you. There hasn't been a day that has gone by since I first held you 30 months ago that you haven't made me smile big and made my heart fill with pride to say you're my son.

Look at what He did!!

This beautiful little angel is sweet Susannah. Yes, the same little girl that only a week ago we were all on our knees desperately begging our Savior to allow her to get well enough to come home.

Well, look at her now! GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME! Thank you, Jesus!

Read the amazing transformation HERE and please continue to lift this family up in prayer.