I love these people!

Cousins!!!

I was blessed to have my sister and crew here for a quick visit! I love, love, love them and was thrilled to introduce them to Isaiah. This is my sis that took care of my kiddos while we were in Africa for 2 weeks - what a blessing to us all - we could not have done it with out her and her awesome family.

Checking out the tree!

Reece checking out Isaiah's food!

Isaiah (and all my kiddos) are blessed with wonderful cousins!

I love my Sis!

~Thank you all for coming down - it was short but VERY sweet~

*We missed you C, L & K - guess you will have to come down again....soon :)*

It bothers me...

I have been very bothered these last few days. It bothers me that, had Justin and I not heard the cry of the orphan, sought God's heart and will for adoption (in The Bible) and moved forward in it ....... we would not have Isaiah - and that bothers me.



It bothers me that we may not have know his eyes. If you have met him you know what I mean - he has eyelashes any woman would die for - they melt me.



It bothers me that he would have just moved onto another institution - soon.



I bothers me that he would have never experience a bubble bath - he giggles even when there are bubbles in the sink - he is a bubble freak.



I bothers me that no one may have cared that red is his favorite color - he points it out everywhere.



I bothers me that I may have never known that he has a huge desire to please. Days can be frustrating - teaching him a whole new world but he has a HUGE desire to please his mommy and daddy - HUGE - it can cut the most frustrating of moments.



It bothers me that no one would give him music lesson that are sure to come - he drums in the air and has rhythm at 2!



It bothers me that no one would have rocked him to sleep - ever.



It bothers me that my other children my have never know him.



It bothers me that I would have never heard him and Lily giggle at nap time for 15 minutes straight (what they were laughing about, I could not tell but I was loving the sound).



It bothers me that he may not have had an opportunity have an education. He loves to learn - this kid LOVES to learn.

It bothers me that all of my fear about the looks I would get in public having a black child on my hip have been unfounded. In fact I get smiles and encouragement. I have seen a few judgemental looks - very few - and those are the same people that glared at me when I walked in with 4 small children.

It bothers me that people felt the need to tell their horror stories that they have heard of from some newspaper in Southern California 10 years ago (you get the idea). What those people don't know is.......that I have never been discouraged by anyone that has adopted - not once - and trust me, I have asked for the truth (and A LOT of people). To every horror story that is out there I have received 3 times as many success stories. Some have been at the most divine time - I will share that story soon.

It bothers me that Isaiah may not have been around our Thanksgiving table this year - that makes my stomach turn.

It bothers me that had I let the world corrupt me (see the end of James 1:27) I would not have known Isaiah and been his mommy for the last month - and now I cannot remember life without him.

(This is a pic - of not one mommy but 2 - just ask her - helping Isaiah to feel better)

Mmmmm.....

"Do I have something on my face?"

Beater Anyone?

Thank you Jesus for bringing Isaiah into our family to enjoy the wonderful taste of homemade cheesecake! :) Lily show him how it's done!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I am so thankful! God is so good! To write a list today would be endless .... so here are just a few reasons why I am so thankful this Thanksgiving Day :

From our home to yours Happy Thanksgiving!

Let us flood Heaven with prayer!

I am begging for all who read this blog to spread the word and pray. The Canadian government has just denied visas for a Canadian couple adopting 2 children from Uganda. They had no choice (after 7 weeks of jumping through all the hoops and completing all the proper paperwork IN Uganda) to board a plane empty handed. Heartbreaking! This is not justice at all!

What if blogland can carry a voice to the Canadian government? God can use media for His purposes too and as I started praying about this I thought what a perfect time to move the hearts of Canadians! For them to raise their voices to bring these kids home for the holidays!

This denial does not just effect one family (although - what if it was your 1 family?) - this effects those behind them. Like James and Cheremi who will be sending their paperwork to the Embassy hopefully in a few days. Not to mention those I do not personally know!

Pleeeeease pray - please ask God what to do! Please get involved - there is no justice in this - we as Christians are to fight for justice!

So hows it going?

The main question right now is - how is it going? Honestly I have to say WAY better than I ever imagined! Our issues are so small and doable right now. #1, 2 3 & 4 have blown me away how they love on him - so gentle and sweet! I was watching Hunter juggle for Isaiah tonight and the light in Isaiah's eyes, watching him, was amazing. I told Hunter I can see how much he is going to look up to him. All of them are forming their own bond with him in their own ways and in some ways that has been my favorite part so far. Isaiah lets down any walls that the life he has led before may have formed, when he is with the kids.

I think a lot of the struggle these past few weeks have been MY struggle and frustration more than Isaiah's. I did not do well in Africa. I missed my kids at home so bad I could hardly think straight. Africa and the culture did not bother me - it was being away from my kids - I did not feel like myself at all. I just wanted to get Isaiah and get out of there back to my hubby and kids. It was hard for me to bond with him - It was hard for me to do anything, really. I had always thought I would do this and that when I was in Uganda but I did not factor in the crippling depression I would get while there. I guess I have been a stay at home mom for 10 + years, no job - ALWAYS with my kids - and then boom - "don't worry, have fun, enjoy this time" - nope, didn't work. The thing is, I love being at home. I love taking care of my kids. I love spending my time just keeping the home fires burning - I am really a hermit at heart (a very social hermit if there could be such a thing). But more than all of that I love My Jesus more. More than ALL of it, and for him I would do it again and yes, probably will. ---- Deep breath all my loved ones, not anytime soon! :)

For Jesus I would do it again. You may ask why? Why, if it was that hard and depressing? Well because we are never promised that following Christ will "feel" fabulous, comfortable or easy. Was it fabulous for the apostles to be beaten time and time again? Was it easy for Jesus to keep preaching, though at times he was trying to get away for some rest? No, but he saw the people and had compassion and then he preached and healed. Our examples in God's Word make it very clear. If you think following Christ does not include suffering I challenge you to biblegateway.com and search the word suffering - scroll through the New Testament verses - you will get the idea really fast. It is something we share with Christ.

I have been reading a lot lately about how in our weakness He is made strong. Honestly I look at my time in Africa and think - God was I even letting your light shine through - was I SOOO weak that You could not even use me? But as I decompress from the trip I see how God was with me...

It could have ONLY been God that did all of that in less than 3 weeks - ONLY God! He moved mountains and paved ways and I take no credit for any of it - God did it. Many people have asked how we independently adopted that fast and I say ONLY GOD - He walked us through it all. From the finances here at home to the judges in Uganda - ONLY GOD!

To God be the Glory! I desire to passionately serve Him all my days! His promises never fail!

The blessings! - many times I write about what is heavy on my heart but I do want you to know about the blessings - here are some pics to give you a taste.

Blessings Abound!

Time to rejoice and sing - naturally the kids knew this!!!!!

Words really can not describe how blessed I feel today! Isaiah is a different boy - who is this kid? He smiles non-stop and seems to just know he is home. The kids LOVE him and hang on his every word - what a blessing to me!

I am so thankful - thank you for praying us home!