Watching water boil...

I've been asked lately how it's going with the new adoption. "What new adoption?" is my first thought.

Have you ever stood over a big pot of water waiting for it to boil? Well, that's what it feels like. Yet, as God promised with our last three children, I know He's working behind the scenes. I've yet to once pray about this situation and feel that maybe it's not what we should be doing. I always end up with that same inexplicable peace in knowing that He's got it under control. So, trust me....I've been praying A LOT!

I know His timing is perfect and if I meddle with His perfection, chances are pretty good it'll end up being disastrous. So, I continue to stand over the huge pot, watching and praying for teeny-tiny bubbles to form at the bottom.

I'll close with one of the entries in my journal for this adoption. I just love it when God does little things like this!! :)


May 18, 2008

God keep’s showing me little signs. Today we drove past two little girls with an adorable lemonade stand, selling lemonade for 25 cents a cup. They waved and we kept going. I felt bad and told Scott to turn around and buy a couple of cups of lemonade from them.

We pulled up and asked for 2 cups, the little girl hands them to me. I give one to Scott and keep one. When I look at my cup, it’s got “Diego” on the cup with big letters next to it that say “African Adventure”. Thank you Lord! You made my day!

Turning a marathon into a sprint!

God is good! I am humbled that he continues to use me as His vessel to reach out to others. I came home tonight after a huge celebration (I'll post about that later) with the kids to find 5 (!!!) emails from friends and a couple of strangers telling me that my last post was directed towards THEM! Please remember that I am only a tool. God is the orchestrator and with a thankful heart I give Him the glory and honor for anyone that is ever touched by any words I write.

Now, time to make some room for something I really want to vent/share about. Those of you that know me, know that I am a type A personality. I feel like I'm now a woman on a mission. And Scott? Well, I think he feels like smacking me! Heh! Right about now, you must be asking yourself, "What the hec is she babbling about now?"

Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to get the green light, first from God, and then from my husband, to bring home another little one and NOT be able to. UGH!!!!

Yeah, yeah. I know I wrote all about Daddy having a plan, about His timing being perfect (and I TRULY believe that with all my heart), but man, oh man! This is killing me. I now spend every free second (hence my reason for being so lame about returning emails....so sorry!!!) just gazing into the beautiful chocolate-colored eyes of African children. I think I've spoken to every adoption agency working in every country in Africa in the past month. I've even begun to ponder boy names that start with the letter "A". Someone please shake me back into reality!

Our biggest (and only) obstacle continues to be finances. First the ones we need to clear, and then the ones we need to gather for another adoption. Do I feel God will provide? Absolutely! NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD! "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." - Matthew 19:26

But why is He taking so long? Where is it going to come from? How is He going to arrange this? I don't know, but I do know that I'm ready, Lord!! Scott's ready (although not nearly as anxious as I am)! There are a couple of things looking good for us right now, but they are not happening at warp speed.

Tonight after watching American Idol with Scott, I turned to him and said, "What about club feet?" He looked at me as if I had asked him if he could see well out of his third eye! He said, "Huh?" I said, "What about club feet? Are we going to request a healthy child or are we again going for special needs? And if we are adopting a special needs child, what do you think about club feet?" He burst out in laughter (which he knows pisses me off!!!) and said, "We're gonna pay off all our bills first." Men! (Yes, Aus...feel free to comment. I'd love to hear from probably my only male reader. :)

I then stomped off in my childish manner muttering under my breath that club feet is fine with me and that he could laugh all he wants but that I was going to find a way to pay off all our bills and that he should expect our social worker to jump out of his stocking at Christmas time waving a homestudy at him! I could still hear him laughing as I walked down the hall.

So, that's where I'm at tonight. Praying that God somehow make that miracle happen.
He's already done the hard part, convincing Scott. Coming up with money to pay off our last adoption debt, should be a breeze for Him! Please keep my overzealous enthusiasm in your prayers, while at the same time asking the Lord to, if at all possible, come up with something quick so that we can get started on bringing home another little guy before I lose my sanity!

A "pick-me-up" for myself

I feel like I don't really have much time to breathe, and again, I am behind on responding to emails....sorry. I promise I will.

I've been having a a few down days lately. So, I wanted to share another "sign" that God gave me a not long ago to "pick me up". This has helped me let it all go and put it back in His hands.

First, you have to flashback to a couple of weeks ago when I posted THIS VIDEO in which I titled it DADDY HAS A PLAN.

I'm not sure if you noticed that I didn't comment on it. Well, I have two reasons why there was no comment. First, is because I was pretty much speechless after seeing it (if you can believe that!) and secondly because it was yet another affirmation that indeed Daddy DOES have a plan, and I wasn't quite ready to share it with the world yet.

Here is an entry from that date that I included in my personal journal shortly after seeing this at 11:00 p.m. at night. I promise it's worth seeing the video, so after reading this, please take a minute and watch it if you haven't done so already.

April 22, 2008

WOW!!! Lord you are so awesome! I have to write about something I did today. I came across someone’s blog and saw an amazing short video about how there are many millions of orphans worldwide and how we could each do our part.

Well, I was so moved by it, that I sent it to everyone on my email list. Later tonight, I come to check my email and I have a response from my sister. Her response to the video was “Just awesome !!!! If I could always live my life knowing that HIS words are not just empty words but are PROMISES and stand on that, my life would be 100x better. Thanks for sharing and reminding me to BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD !!!!”

I thought, "that was a bit strange because the video really didn’t say anything about God’s promises and our trust", but I figured, it’s late, so…whatever.

Scott and Amanda happened to walk into the room when I closed the email and I immediately thought it would be good for them to see it. So, I reopen the email from my sister and click on the link I had sent her (and 50 other people). The short video opens up, but the girl starts speaking about a special needs child and nothing relating to what I had originally seen. I was so upset. I felt like a total idiot. I had sent EVERYONE the WRONG video clip. How could that happen? Where did this video come from?

I then quickly go back to Godtube and try and find the one I had seen on the blog, since I knew that Scott and Amanda were getting impatient. I found it and let them watch it. They thought it was moving, but nothing out of this world. I, too, didn’t feel as “moved” as I had when I thought I was sending it to everyone I knew.

In the meantime, I am thinking to myself that maybe I should email everyone back and say, “Sorry folks. I goofed. Here’s the REAL video clip I wanted you to watch.” But, I just figured I’d let it go and head to bed.

As I was ready to leave my desk, I was still bothered about that wrong video I sent. So, I decide to take a few minutes and watch it.

This is where our Lord comes in and knocks me back and says “TRUST ME! I HAVE A PLAN!” I sit in my chair tonight, tears streaming down my cheeks, thanking our Savior for His infinite wisdom. This was NO mistake. God wanted me to send that video out, not for everyone else to watch….but the message was for ME! He was telling me He has a plan. I need to be patient and wait and was again reminded that His plan and His timing is always perfect.

This message came at just the right time. He knew I desperately needed it. I’ve been praying daily about Liberia, about our financial situation (which needs to be addressed before any other adoption could even be considered) and about the dynamics of our family, who is now in a routine and doing so well and about the fact that Liberia’s adoptions are on hold right now. For the past two days, I’ve pondered these thoughts over and over. The more I thought about it, the less I felt like praying and the more depressed I got. I figured that the adoption thing was just a phase and that God was starting to remove that “feeling” from my heart. Even my Divine Mercy rosary that I do daily asking the Lord to reveal His plan and telling Him that I am His servant and open to do whatever His will may be, I haven’t done in 2 days.

Now I see it all so clearly. Those “pondered thoughts”. The lack of wanting to pray. That was all Satan filling my mind with lies. Making me doubt God’s promise (Yes, what the video was all about!). His faithfulness.

I’m upset at myself for falling into the trap, but I see it now for what it is. Satan doesn’t come in like gangbusters, he sneaks in subtlety, so that we can’t detect that it was him. Well, I serve a very mighty God who indeed does know my heart and does know that I just want to be obedient to His will. He intervened and showed me the truth. Thank you, Lord for watching over me and our family. We praise and honor you first and foremost, always.

Tomorrow I will go start back on the track of daily prayer and will continue to rebuke the adversary. I trust, Lord, that you will indeed continue to guide us and I know with every fiber of my being, the one you created and know everything about, that you DO have a plan for my life and it IS perfect. Your heart is so filled with love for your orphans that I continue to be affirmed that you are setting us on that path. So we wait.

And now for the rest of the story. (Part III)

"...We left church and headed home. I was chomping at the bit to see if God had hit Scott over the head with a lightning bolt, but as he drove he still did not comment. I bit my tongue and refrained from asking. We went home, had dinner and called it a night. "

Three nights later, I found myself needing to know what his thoughts were. I again prayed. Actually, I told God that I knew I should just shut up and wait, but I couldn't wait any longer. So, I went into the bedroom where Scott was laying watching his "late show", Family Man. Most nights, he hands the remote over to me as soon as the show is over, kisses me goodnight and goes to sleep. So, I patiently sat and pretended to watch the show (which he knows I hate anyways).

When it was over, as expected, he gave me the remote and my kiss goodnight. This time instead of saying goodnight, I said, "Can we talk?" I think he knew it was coming. It was just a matter of time. I'm really surprised and impressed that I held off that long.

He said, "Sure." I asked him if he's been praying about what I had mentioned and he said, "Yes, every day." I then said, "And?" (My husband sometimes has this way of making me feel like I am pulling teeth, but you gotta love him.) He then said, "I've thought about it, about the children in Africa, about how blessed we are and yes, if it is God's will for us to bring home another child, then so be it. You are right. We have so many luxuries and so much, I agree that it's what Jesus would want us to do and I want to be obedient to His calling."

I was so taken back that I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The only words I could utter were (since at that moment fear struck me like a bolt of lightening at the thought that now we may indeed be bringing home another little one) "You know, this doesn't mean that we have to adopt, or that we will. It just means that we are both 150% in agreement that if it is God's will and he provides for us to clear our debts and somehow come up with the money for another adoption, we will bring home a son." He said, "Yes! That's exactly what it means."

WOW!!!!!! Isn't God amazing? I guess that's why he's God. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought that Scott would ever agree to another adoption. Never. Ever. Ever. Yet, here he was. Just weeks after I began praying, right next to me saying, "Lord, may your will be done."

The following day is when I posted THIS PICTURE on the blog. That day we had taken a long walk through the park. We had a great time with the new camera. I distinctly remember coming home and we were viewing all the pictures that I had taken with the new camera. When I got to the picture I mentioned above, I said "Wouldn't an African little boy standing between you and I make this picture perfect?" Scott chuckled at me and said, "Yes, he would!"

So, that's where we stand right now. Both Scott and I are 100% open to another adoption. We would love to bring home a toddler boy from West Africa. Is it written in stone that it's going to happen? No, because we don't know if those are God's plans. But, what we do know is that He has changed both our hearts and opened them wider than either one of us ever expected. Now we just need him to open the doors and provide. We serve a very, mighty God and I know NOTHING is impossible with him. I have to stand firm in my faith that it will happen if it's according to His will.

Scott and I have discussed how the bible tells us about Abraham and Sarah and how they waited so many years for their promised son. And then, God tested Abraham by asking him to give up the very son that was the answer to his prayers. It was what I would believe to be the ultimate test of faith. Abraham had to trust God with every fiber of his being as he was building that altar and laying his son atop of the wood.

I'm not saying we are anywhere close to what Abraham was going to sacrifice. But, we are both as one flesh, uniting in our faith and proclaiming that we will trust our God to the end with that same non-waivering faith. It's very hard to not ever waiver, especially when there are obstacles placed before you such as finances. But, we also know that through our weaknesses and our trials, is when our faith grows the most. When we are weak, we are strong.

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." - II Corinthians 12:10

He has led us to the path, and now we must follow. His will is our greatest desire and we look forward to seeing where the journey takes us. Actually, both Scott and I are hoping that the journey indeed takes us across the world one more time. This time to Africa.

(For the record: Tonight as I was typing this, I turned to Scott and said, "We're still on track to adopt from Africa if God provides, correct?" He looked at me, sighed, and said, "Yep!" with a smile!)

I Haven't Forgotten!

Aren't those beautiful eyes just asking to be loved?

No, he's not ours....but I would bring him home in heartbeat if I could. A quick note to say that YOU GUYS ROCK! I have loved reading every comment and all of the private emails you've sent ranging from those that "knew" we would adopt again, to those who have even felt God telling them that we eventually would adopt again, even without us saying anything. That blows me away!

I also want to thank the reader who took the time to email me and shared her own journey and how God had used us (without our knowledge) to finally put them on the path to adoption! Praise God! He is definitely moving amongst his people. I don't know why, but as always, He amazes me and so do each of you that share so much with our family. It's your words of encouragement, prayers and of course, our Savior, that continuously gives me the strength and desire to keep this blog going to Honor him.

I promise to post Part III (the last and final part) to where we are on this journey hopefully late this afternoon or this evening. Kai had a doctor's appointment yesterday and I had to go with Amanda last evening to pick high school classes ::deep breaths:: so it's been rough making the time to post, and you know me, I have to include just about every detail.

So, stay tuned "for the rest of the story...."

Many Unknowns (Part II)

(Picking up where I left off.)

.....One particular blog hit me so strongly that I had tears streaming down my face. I tried looking the other way so that Scott wouldn't see me. But he did. He didn't say a word. He knew. I then said, "Look at these children." It was a Liberian blog. Yes, God had put an African adoption in my heart.

A few nights later, I just couldn't sleep. It was a Friday night. I tossed and turned, prayed and finally drifted off. The next morning the kids had awoken and were all in our room bouncing on the bed as I was trying to fold laundry. Scott was putting some clothes away and we had CNN on the TV set.

As I played with the kids, I'd raise my eyes and watch if something caught my attention, but for the most part, I wasn't watching TV at all. A few minutes later, I hear something about a couple who felt ostracized by family and friends because they had chosen to abort their unborn fetus who had recently been diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Not once was the living creation in this woman's womb mentioned.

I can't even tell you the pangs of hurt that hearing them speak brought to my heart. My sweet nephew, Emmanuel, who is now in the arms of Jesus, was born with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome). Oh, what our family would have given for that little boy to have survived. I have several friends with Down Syndrome babies, some who are now almost adults, and those children are loving, caring and sensitive human beings. God made them perfect, maybe not our idea of perfect, but perfect in His eyes. I, again, had tears streaming down my face. When the broadcast was over, I continued folding clothes without saying anything. I felt such somberness inside. We finished with the clothes and went and had breakfast and our day began.

At about noon, I put the kids down for a nap and asked Scott if he wanted to lay down with me to take a nap. I was emotionally drained. I had now been praying for a while about our adoption, about Scott, about the horrific conditions that surround the orphans in Africa and then to see someone literally destroy a life because of the inconviences it would have been to raise a child with a medical condition was almost more than I could bear. He agreed to come lay down with me.

Since my mind was racing, I couldn't sleep. I then turned over to Scott and did my usual "Are you awake?" Something I repeatedly ask until he could no longer sleep either. :) When he finally said, "Yes". I then asked him to do me one favor. He said, "What?" I said, "Please, don't comment about what I'm going to say. Don't question it. All I want is for you to promise me that you will agree to what I am asking." He said, "Fine, what is it?" I said, "I want to you pray. Pray hard. Pray about us possibly adopting another child. Please don't do this for me. I don't even know if God wants us to adopt another child. I just want you to ask God if that is His will for you. And if it is, will you be obedient to His calling? You don't have to tell me your answer. That's between you and God." He didn't respond. I looked at him and he could see the grief in my eyes and said, "Yes, I'll pray."

I then asked him if he could ever consider a black baby as his own, and love him the way that he loves Anna Grace and Kai and AJ. He looked at me and said, "Of course, my child is my child. I don't see babies for their color. They are babies." I then knew that God was in our midst.

The following day we went to church. Sometimes mass could be really distracting with these 3 little ones fidgeting, whispering, etc. This particular Sunday, they were great. We listened to mass and went up as family to receive the Holy Eucharist as we always do and then came back to our pews. Our normal routine is that we usually have one sit quietly, while we each hold one of the others and kneel down to pray with them standing between our legs, in deathgrip...heh. I knew it would be impossible for Scott to concentrate on prayer while holding AJ and I felt like God could really pass on hearing my blabber yet another time that day, so I told Scott that I'd watch all three and for him to talk to God.

Wow! He must've had a speech prepared because we usually go through 2 hymns while people are going up to receive the Eucharist and return to their seats, and Scott prays for maybe one of those hymns. Well, Scott prayed not only through the two hymns, but through the priest giving His blessing. My sister and her family were sitting behind us and she even noticed Scott deep in prayer, so much so that she glanced at me and shrugged her shoulders as if asking, "Is he ok?" At that point, no one in my family knew we had been praying about adopting another child.

We left church and headed home. I was chomping at the bit to see if God had hit Scott over the head with a lightning bolt, but as he drove he still did not comment. I bit my tongue and refrained from asking. We went home, had dinner and called it a night.

Many Unknowns (Part I)

I've been thinking about whether to share this with my readers or not, but since a vast majority of you are faith-filled, God-fearing-persons that would understand, I decided I would share what God has been doing in our lives. But I'm mostly sharing, because this blog is intended to bring glory and honor to our Savior, Jesus Christ. (Since this is quite long, I will be writing about what is transpiring in several parts.)

Do you remember this post I wrote on March 3rd? And you remember I said "...but I when I pray this lately, I come up with the feeling that He wants something BIG..." Oh yeah, I just knew it was going to be something big! Well, God is now finally revealing to me, in bits and pieces, what He wants from us. Oh, His plan is not complete (at least to us it's not) but I think He was waiting to see if we were obedient to His calling.

Lately, He has fed me through His word, through His servants and through prayer and fasting that we are in fact being obedient and He is again leading the way, as it should be.

A couple of months ago when I wrote that post God began to stir my heart. You know, that "God feeling" that you get when you pray intensely and you are finally resting at His feet, in silence. Waiting. The more I prayed and the more I told Him I would be obedient to whatever his will was, the more I felt peace about what He was asking of us.

Going back today and re-reading that post, I chuckled when I read the words, "I feel God wanting more from me. I know it. What I don't know is what exactly it is that He wants. I hope it's not another child! heh!". Well now, I do in fact know that it is exactly what He is calling us to do. Will it happen? I don't know, but was He asking to see if we would be obedient if in fact that is what He wanted? Absolutely. We have learned, at times the hard way, that we must walk by faith and not by sight.

After questioning Him for what seemed like everytime I prayed, it finally hit me that I need to shut up and let God be God and do His work. One afternoon, on my knees, in a flurry of tears, I surrendered it all to Him and told Him that I am here. I am his servant and I will be obedient to whatever His will is. I felt peace surround me and was reassured that noone loves me more than He does. He repeatedly tells us,"Do not be afraid. I go before you always."

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:For the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9

But, I also did tell Him (as if He didn't know) that there was NO WAY Scott would go for another adoption. Scott told me with Anna Grace's adoption that "we were done, finished, put a fork in it. Our family is perfect and complete." I even kiddingly said in prayer one day when thinking about my dear husband and another adoption, "Lord, I know you are God, but boy...you've got your work cut out for you when it comes to Scott agreeing to this."

Still, I have continued to pray daily about this. God has put people in my path that have, without knowing, affirmed His decision in my heart. This post was yet another affirmation. Adoption is not something we take lightly, especially with the finances involved and the time you have to dedicate to a child.

At church, during the homily, I would receive affirmation after affirmation. Everywhere I went, God was showing me "signs" that I was on the right track and just to be still and know that He is God. How was I ever going to bring up another adoption to Scott? I couldn't. I knew it would be a reason for an argument. I've also been trying hard to be submissive to my husband and allow him to be our spiritual leader. I wanted God to speak to His heart, not me.

Little did I know that while all of these struggles were going on in my mind, God was whittling away at Scott's heart. One evening after the kids were in bed, Scott went to his computer and was playing his World of Warcraft game while I sat on my computer and was reading blog after blog.

One particular blog hit me so strongly that I had tears streaming down my face. I tried looking the other way so that Scott wouldn't see me. But he did. He didn't say a word. He knew. I then said, "Look at these children." It was a Liberian blog. Yes, God had put an African adoption in my heart.

A couple of weeks ago I began journaling my thoughts, not only to keep track of everything that is so quickly happening around here, but again, to glorify God as we see His hand in the midst of all of this craziness.

Here is my first entry:

"April 16, 2008

I'm not sure exactly where this is going to lead, but I have been moved to write my feelings down and so here I am.

For the past few weeks, I have felt closer to the Lord than I have in a very long time. As he has healed Anna Grace’s heart, and is s-l-o-w-l-y working with me and my patience, he is also moving my heart towards adoption again.

This past week, especially, he has offered confirmations over and over that I should start thinking about another child. Sometimes I think it’s crazy! It totally is….financially and emotionally. With Anna Grace’s coming home, I was convinced we were finished. Our family was complete. I praised and honored him for using us as His hands and feet and for allowing us to raise, not 1, not 2 but 3 precious gifts in His name.

I guess you can’t tell God when you’re finished, huh? I don’t even know if these are His plans. Maybe we won’t be adding another child, but boy…those feelings and questions are becoming awfully familiar now.

Even the fears that I face have been answered in some way or another by Him. Sometimes in prayer and sometimes through others, without them even knowing.

My heart keeps telling me I have a child in Liberia. Ironically, just this past month, Liberian adoptions have been halted for revamping. Is our child not born yet? Is he not in the orphanage yet? Many questions I don’t know the answer to, but He keeps telling me, (as He did with every single one of our other adoptions) “TRUST ME”.

Some of my fears:

First and foremost, I want Scott to be the one to say, “We have another child waiting for us.” He is the head of our household and although on a bit slower walk with Christ than I have been lately, his heart loves Jesus and he truly is a Godly man. I have asked the Lord to either change my heart about this adoption or Scott’s, but we both have to be in it 150% percent.

Liberia. In prayer, I have told God my fears about whether or not a child would be happy being raised by a family of a totally different color (since we are already multi-ethnic here) and have to deal with the prejudices that the secular world seems to embrace. His response was loud and clear one day. “Did I not create EVERY child? Do you think I would love one more than another? They are ALL MY children made in MY image.” And being no coincidence, for the first time in years, I heard the song “Everything is beautiful” being played a few days later while in the car with the kids. “Red and yellow, black and white. They are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world”. Enough said.

Although my family and friends love my children to death, I must admit that I have a fear of sharing what is probably another one of the most joyous moments in my life with these people. I truly do not want to hear, these phrases, “Another one? Isn’t 3 enough? Don’t you already have your hands full? How about finances with only Scott working and ALL those kids? I can’t believe you guys are adopting again! Are you crazy? You guys will never be able to afford any luxuries again. You're adopting a black baby?”

Well, God answered this one also. My new blog friend, Laine, from the Ferrill Bunch (someone whom God just happened to in my path, as if He didn’t plan this out, right?) entered the following in her blog. She was referring to her own experience, but God used her to speak to me. She wrote: “Can you see whose signature is behind all those whispers of excuses in my ear, making me not want to share my testimony? Uh-huh. I'm sorry to say I bought in to those lies too many times. My faith has wavered, I have questioned God again and again, "Are you SURE you want us to adopt again?"

I am so thankful for those words. It truly made me see that God has a HUGE heart for adoption and for His orphans, as if I didn’t already know this.

Mother Theresa once said, “…love means to be willing to give until it hurts.” Those words resonate so deeply in my heart. Most people give, but they give what they can give without it affecting them. Do you think it’s more important for my 3 little ones to go to Disney 4 times a year, or maybe go once every two years, but allow another one of God’s children to have a warm bed, a full tummy and a healthy life knowing Jesus? Is it more important for our little ones to have Nintendos, Wii games, name brand shoes and clothes, their own rooms or is it more important to know the love of Christ and what it is like to belong to a family and know the true meaning of love?

We love our Lord with all of our hearts and want to serve and honor Him for all that he has blessed us with and walking by faith not by sight is definitely a mighty way to show Him our trust. He has never failed us.

While reading the bible today, God took me to one of my favorite parables in scripture:

Luke 21:1-4

The Widow's Offering

As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

I know that the Lord wants us to live comfortably. Hec, he even wants us to have some of those luxuries as long as we tithe, but in my heart of hearts, how can we possibly spend money on luxuries, because that’s what they are, when there are millions of children dying yearly worldwide because they don’t have any food to eat. I just can’t do it.

We live in a very selfish society and I feel a moral obligation to not buy into those lies anymore, but instead ask myself, “What would Jesus do?”

As I pray daily about this, my heart is very much at peace that He is in control and will reveal to us His perfect plan.

Lord,

I ask that you give us wisdom and guidance as Scott and I seek Your will into what lies ahead in our future. May whatever Your will is, be used to glorify and honor You, who is so worthy of praise.

In Your Blessed Name,

AMEN!"

"Daddy has a plan!"

(Please remember to scroll downa and turn off the background music)

Do you have a moment to SAVE the LIFE of a child?

Malaria is a disease caused by the blood parasite Plasmodium, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Infected humans experience flu-like symptoms that can result in coma and death. Malaria, from the Medieval Italian words mala aria or “bad air,” infects more than 500 million people a year and kills more than a million— one person dies about every 30 seconds. The disease is particularly devastating in Africa, where it is a leading killer of children. In addition to being home to the deadliest strain of malaria and the mosquito best equipped to transmit the disease, many areas in Africa lack the proper infrastructure and resources to fight back.

Each year, malaria afflicts approximately a half-billion people (roughly the population of the United States, Canada, and Mexico combined).

- Malaria kills more than a million people per year; 90 percent of those who die are African children.

- Every 30 seconds in Africa a child dies of malaria.

- Malaria incapacitates people, keeping countries poor. In addition to the health burden, malaria illness and death cost Africa about $12 billion per year.

- Studies show that use of insecticide-treated bed nets can reduce transmission as much as 90% in areas with high coverage rates.

In commemoration of World Malaria Day, April 25, Nothing But Nets.net has created a fun, interactive and life saving game. They need they YOUR help to cover the continent of Africa with life-saving bed nets to prevent malaria. Please take a moment to play this silly game and a generous sponsor will send a bed net on your behalf. Spread the word....and save a life!

Click here to start playing "DELIVER THE NET" now! (please remember to register to receive your confirmation that a net is being sent on your behalf!)

Have fun and God bless you!


*FACT CHECKED BY THE US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROLAND PREVENTION (CDC)

Short Note

I am so sorry that I have been a horrible blogger lately, but between strep, fevers and today a migraine that has rocked my world, I just couldn't drag myself on here.

I did want to say quickly that I am so very impressed with how well some of you know me. Your emails, which were quite accurate about what my prayers have been, were definitely on the right track. You guys crack me up!

I miss blogging and after I nap (hopefully my 3 munckins will cooperate) and wake up feeling better from my migraine, I'll catch up on the going ons at the Bombardier household. So check back soon.

God reveals Himself....PRIMETIME!

There is something that has been growing in my heart for the past couple of weeks and I have been praying fervently about it. All I can say right now is that it relates to my children and my family, but don't fret, it's nothing bad.

Well, last night, while praying hard, my phone rang. It was Adam saying, "Mom! Hurry, turn on American Idol!" I was in the middle of praying, but he sounded so adamant about my watching that I said ok. When I turn on the TV set, the American Idol contestants were all singing "Shout To The Lord". I just about fell over.

As a lot of you know, that song is so very close to my heart. The first time I remember being drawn to Christ through that song was when I drove from Miami to Ft. Myers alone to be with my sister when we found out her baby had passed away.

From the time God moved my heart to adopt, I always relate that song to my babies and it has been the anthem at the Bombardier household every night for over two years now, since AJ and Kai came home. The kids love it and sweetly sing it after prayers each night.

Listening to it in the midst of asking God to give me answers last night was Him definitely saying, "Don't worry. I'm in control and I hear you."