tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67586215976677742352012-01-27T11:05:29.953-05:00But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.comBlogger7661100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-90186260802097898962012-01-27T11:02:00.001-05:002012-01-27T11:05:29.961-05:00

Hey!It's been so fun making these wall creations!We have a couple of new creations ... Check them out Have had most of them sell out as I make them... be sure to get yours as a gift for a fellow adopting parent, for your new child as a gift... as a beautiful addition to your collection of art. ;) ok... I know that last one is a stretch, but the stained one in particular is beautiful in person. :)

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-48306864227739315822012-01-25T13:19:00.000-05:002012-01-25T13:21:10.970-05:00

I was talking to a man on the phone the other day about my thoughts for the 501c3 I want to start…I have been trying to nail down the concept and information, and was talking about grants and start up costs with him.He was very intrigued by my idea and then was astounded when I said I had been to Ethiopia 5 times already. Then I was sort of astounded. Really?!! I have been there 5 times? To

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-91183428129294015972012-01-24T09:14:00.002-05:002012-01-24T09:38:36.946-05:00

Life has been a little crazy around here... waiting in limbo has been the hardest part.We are still waiting for news that B's case has moved through the local court and can be set up to move into the federal court and get us a court date.And we are still waiting to hear that the 2 pieces of paper have been obtained for A's case to know that he will be ours. I think that's the hardest part ever.

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-87345046501264317012012-01-23T08:27:00.001-05:002012-01-23T08:32:09.711-05:00

Hey guys!I know I haven't been here to update much :) I figure you don't want to hear me whining about the fact that we are STILL waiting on paper work. We have had some pretty cool situations happen though that I think will be the thing we need to get the ball really rolling.Any way... I am going to Ethiopia in March.Either for a court date for my guys ...or just to visit them cause it's truly

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-56917408195032170342012-01-01T09:43:00.005-05:002012-01-01T10:26:44.689-05:00

2011 has been a blessed year over all. We had some losses but many many gains... and as it ended last night I was feeling so very excited for what lies ahead for 2012.Here is a short pictorial of our year. Not in order of event...as the pics weren't in order...lol but you get the gist.Our sweet Gabriel's heart decided to cease and he went on to doggie heaven. We still miss the giant love!!! My

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-10675957798803822922011-12-12T21:38:00.003-05:002011-12-12T21:46:38.290-05:00

Well... it's not great. BUT! It's news...We have been sitting on it for about a week now... praying and pondering...waiting to see if there's any new news to share.... there's not.We found out last Monday that both boy's paperwork is in a SNAFU situation. Yep.... last Monday ...6 months after we expressed our interest in them. Six Months after I met them in June. One month after I went to ET to

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-73065576529082097412011-11-22T09:14:00.000-05:002011-11-22T09:15:35.844-05:00

This morning N said to me “Momma, there is a party in my heart, that’s why I have so much energy!”After marveling about his choice of words, and loving what comes out of his mouth sometimes I began to think about it more.Do I have a party in my heart? I WANT a party in my heart.I of course had to post his funny on FB, and my dear friend said he must have gotten it from me because she thinks of me

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-43013599453182520432011-11-14T08:41:00.003-05:002011-11-14T08:52:15.982-05:00

Some pics from my trip... I didn't get my camera out as often as I should have, so there aren't many, but this was the best trip...most fun. I have had so many people comment at the happiness they see on my face... it's cause I was. Me and AM, my friend and driver...great guy!! Recommend him to anyone who is looking for someone to take them around. He knows where everything is, and speaks great

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-87648623777868468662011-11-13T07:02:00.002-05:002011-11-13T07:17:51.259-05:00

Life has been full of twists and turns over the past several months and I haven't really been able to keep up with them all. :)I found when I came home from the last mission trip in June, and had met the boys that it was that much harder to come home here. I don't mean to my family, but here to America.It was harder to reinsert myself into life, and to stop thinking about all those that I love in

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-52836852127438025492011-11-10T14:37:00.001-05:002011-11-14T08:38:54.803-05:00

So much to tell you!!! Just got back from Ethiopia and am trying to re-acclimate! Yep, I went to Ethiopia. Nope I don’t have boys with me. The last couple of months had been an exercise in wait training yet again. We sent our Dossier to ET in July and are still waiting on paper work for the boys to get collected so that we can get submitted to court. While waiting I was playing with

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-80561590782556156362011-09-24T14:57:00.001-04:002011-09-24T14:57:29.132-04:00

Another week down. Another week no news. I don't post as often I guess because it would really just me whining and complaining because I REALLY want to be in Ethiopia... or have 2 little Ethiopians here with me. :) I will spare you this time though. News on the home front. We got a new dog. Did I tell you that? Didn't take long huh? Our Buddy dog really just is not a single dog kinda guy. He

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-51646288545080383732011-09-17T09:20:00.000-04:002011-09-17T09:20:11.246-04:00

Hey ya'll! All is well. Just working through school beginnings and figuring out how to live the new schedule. Z started his sophomore year in college and a new job at the same time. He's working for a mortgage company. And so far loving it. S started her senior year... be still my heart. How did she become a senior already??!! Where does the time go? She is really focusing this year... better

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-68696133087528935012011-08-31T11:01:00.002-04:002011-08-31T11:05:46.896-04:00

Please take a moment to check out this site. Because Every Mother Matters is an awesome org that is working very hard to end the orphan crisis in one small part of the world, by saving the lives of the mothers. This fundraiser is a win win! Check out the info below, and if you put our names in the donation line we are in the pile to possibly receive some funds to help with our travel expenses.

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-44663977452840063662011-08-24T11:38:00.000-04:002011-08-24T11:40:19.008-04:00

Life is certainly unpredictable huh? Yesterday we here in the good old state of VA, had an earthquake…that we felt! It was the oddest thing! I know all you folks on the West Coast are saying it was merely a tremor but it’s not something we ever feel here! I have lived here almost my whole life and haven’t ever felt one. I now also know why people die in buildings during them because if you

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-8890595325679067282011-08-20T10:08:00.002-04:002011-08-20T10:20:27.380-04:00

Still no news. Nothing Nada No one knows if they have been submitted to court before it closed. There is no communication from our agency at all.... Trying not to worry. Still praying really hard! Move mountain... move...

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-10791526075562292332011-08-19T16:19:00.001-04:002011-08-20T21:54:39.545-04:00

Three years ago this week we met E for the very first time. You can read about it here and here … what a life change we have made since then! We learned about faith, patience, joy, humor, and hiv about g-tubes and medicine and trusting God. When we first saw his little face on the DVD we were taken with his tiny little self and funny little shoulder shrug (not so funny when we got home and

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-84825325480283840882011-08-11T15:26:00.002-04:002011-08-11T15:42:35.773-04:00

Gabe's death doesn't change who God is, or whether I think He's still pretty freakin awesome! These last few days have been incredibly hard. It's hard to fathom the pain of losing a loved one. The thing about dogs are that they are unconditional in their love for their people. People often liken the love of dogs to that of God....lol Not to be all sacrilegious or anything. But I think it's true.

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-78995560227163560632011-08-08T11:44:00.002-04:002011-08-08T11:58:38.251-04:00

This post won't be adoption related....it will mostly be me just being sad. Just a forewarning. Last night our curve ball was thrown in the sudden death of our 8 yr old Mastiff Gabriel. It had been a day I really just wanted to stay in bed anyway... sometimes you just get the feeling it's not going to be a good one? But, I didn't. I got up and we went to church, which was good. Then came home

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-70307934861096783502011-08-06T11:28:00.002-04:002011-08-06T11:35:40.190-04:00

So this week we found out that we are being given a grant for the remainder of our agency fees!Seriously!!!!When we started this adoption we were in full trust that God would fund it. Because to be quite frank, it wasn't happening without His intervention. Now all we need to come up with is the travel fees, and I also found this week that we will be able to come up with that from another source..

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-55652222384201389452011-08-04T16:31:00.001-04:002011-08-04T16:31:56.486-04:00

So yesterday I was at work, talking with …well a co-worker… who hadn’t heard that we are adopting again. It’s not like I placed an ad in the company newsletter or anything, but it’s no longer a secret.As I broke the news that there were 2 more on the way AND that they were both around 11 yrs of age, I got the usual response, ‘YOU’RE CRAZY’ (yes she pretty much yelled it)Now this response doesn’t

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-41433494196447700962011-07-28T10:32:00.001-04:002011-07-28T10:32:46.353-04:00

So… after meeting them …loving them and already considering the boys ours… we have officially accepted their referrals!!!We are SO excited! Seriously it’s so much fun to be able to say that we have a referral for real. Although there was never really a chance that they would be someone else’s once we committed to the agency that we wanted them.It’s one of the things I really like about our agency

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-91026863828463589192011-07-22T10:41:00.000-04:002011-07-22T10:44:35.060-04:00

Can you go check out this blog?There is a sweet little girl named Teri Lynn... seriously, how precious is that name?!My friend Adeye has worked to raise money for her adoption, and the Lord has provided in a HUGE HUGE way... what's missing is her family.You cannot look at her pictures and NOT want to go scoop her up. I cannot fathom the sadness that must permeate the place where she is now.Please

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-51717564466466247692011-07-20T13:20:00.001-04:002011-07-20T13:22:00.206-04:00

This week is vacation bible school at our church. Pandamania!!!The ministry focus is shoes for the children of Korah that go to the church we partner with.We got some money out to give the boys to take in to help buy shoes. Then asked them to go to their piggy banks and get some of their own money. So they did. Got them out, dumped them and headed for the coins.I sat down and explained the

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-3281246839687449552011-07-14T15:49:00.000-04:002011-07-14T15:50:33.517-04:00

Tuesday, D and T (my mission leader buddies) and I met with our associate pastor to speak about our mission trip.It's always fun to talk with them, and to share because then we get on these great tangent's about what we can do, and where this ministry can go and how big it can get. But they are guys...and they have a different brain....lol so I need another chick to help me reign all that

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-61774076875971438222011-07-13T14:49:00.002-04:002011-07-13T15:04:04.269-04:00

So I am going to back track a bit since I missed several weeks and share a bit about where we are in the process, and some of the interesting things that happened before I left for Ethiopia.We are currently waiting for our Dossier to get into the country.Our fingerprints were done on June 3.The new cool thing about working with USCIS is that you can email them...and even call them and they

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-72250055586187466832011-07-10T17:13:00.003-04:002011-07-10T17:28:47.085-04:00

WE have been home just over a week now, and I am still learning to navigate with only half a heart.The thing about this trip that was different, was that were strengthening bonds, and then made some incredible new ones. So it's almost harder to stay away this time. So many things still to do. This morning in church we sang Blue Tree's 'God of This City'. Greater things are yet to come, greater

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-49594781135137911032011-07-07T16:46:00.000-04:002011-07-07T16:47:10.568-04:00

Sorry for the delay in posting ya’ll :) from the texts and emails, it’s been too long.We are back from our mission trip, we arrived in the afternoon of July 1, after that very long and tiring flight from Addis.I have been trying to get back into life here and as I have said a couple of times, figure out how to navigate life here with only half my heart.This trip was special, in that we were able

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-52567892179976724292011-06-03T15:03:00.002-04:002011-06-03T15:15:00.387-04:00

So one of the outcomes of N's miracle acceptance is the hard fact of saying good bye. Because he will be going to a new school he will have to say goodbye to many of his friends.This has been truly disturbing him since he found out he would be going there. We have had many conversations about it, and how he's had to say so many good byes...and how in some cases he didn't get to.So Wednesday

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-57670396703211482252011-05-27T10:39:00.000-04:002011-05-27T10:40:17.810-04:00

I believe in miracles…I believe they still happen and God still shows up in ways we will never understand. I try hard to keep my eyes open to His work…cause man it’s good stuff!Recently we were given the opportunity to see miracles happen in our boys….ok these miracles could be construed as a braggin momma post…just a forewarning…First miracle: My N.He was relinquished to an orphanage at the age

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-70271896748088928242011-05-23T08:39:00.003-04:002011-05-23T08:53:26.102-04:00

Wow!It's been a while since I have blogged here. It's been a whirlwind of activity and blessings abound. Not much happening on the adoption front. We have our finger print appointment on June 3 with USCIS. I am really excited about that and it happened pretty quickly. I am now working on getting all things notarized so that when the I171H comes in I can immediately send it in to the agency and

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-50678101340958006102011-05-07T07:27:00.003-04:002011-05-07T09:08:23.273-04:00

Do you ever just feel like you don't know what to do with the joyous blessings God pours over you?Watching what He is doing in our lives has me up early this Saturday morning because my brain is just flying with thoughts of joy and blessing.It's funny how when you can see the blessing and the ways God is working in your life, all those things that would normally bring you down or make you sad no

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-24254902390261718772011-05-05T09:09:00.002-04:002011-05-05T09:22:13.154-04:00

Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. --1 Chronicles 16:24What does that mean? The Mountain of S?Well my S...my baby girl has had the hardest time with our adoptions from the beginning. She was the baby of the family, and for all intents and purposes an only child because Z lived with his father.So the addition of another child, much

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-53458355885689549162011-05-03T09:41:00.002-04:002011-05-03T09:52:48.997-04:00

Hey! It's teeter totter gal :) Here I am teetering and tottering and I just had one of those fly up in the air moments! :)This past week we have been working with our local police station to get a clearance letter for hubs. He has a checkered past...nothing that would preclude us from adopting (ya know since God used us to change that law ;) ) ...but we needed a police clearance. At first we were

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-88110167281746590622011-04-29T13:35:00.002-04:002011-04-29T14:13:14.275-04:00

People some times call life a roller coaster... I know I have often said that myself.Lately though life seems more like a teeter totter...just strictly up and down with no real or long drawn out climbs to the top before you plummet. While your side flies up you get that funny feeling in the pit of your stomach...and if you don't hold on your butt flies off the seat. Sometimes it feels like Satan

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-56403735883443559802011-04-25T21:31:00.002-04:002011-04-25T21:34:44.780-04:00

Hey ya'll Rhyan is working on raising the funds that she needs to help sustain the house she is creating for the children with hiv to call home. God has provided the funds to rent the house but she needs to be able to sustain it.She has some amazing Haitian items to give for your donations.Please go check it out!!

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-80015972419807937362011-04-19T12:29:00.002-04:002011-04-19T12:47:30.960-04:00

Oh my goodness!Our Home Study has taken forever! Mostly format and information issues. Our SW is very sweet, and we love her, but she's not been informed of some of the changes that need to take place and information that needs to go into a home study that meets Hague requirements.Then our agency has also been very busy and they both work part time...so it was like a perfect storm of events to

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-35029341281051280592011-04-18T09:06:00.002-04:002011-04-18T09:14:07.671-04:00

Need some prayer from ya'll for God's Will to be evident to D. It seems evident to me...but I can't make the call. D is supposed to come with me to Ethiopia for this mission trip. He's been on board since day one. He got a new job in August of last year and told his boss from the begining that it was his plan, and has shared it with him ever since. Last week the boss chose to tell him that since

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-65936851051216392852011-04-14T21:51:00.003-04:002011-04-14T21:58:37.647-04:00

Yes there's an owie... his face and the sidewalk had a fight, the sidewalk won... dern concreteDoesn't he look so grown?!Handsome!Look Ma no hands...

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-68193271440470202982011-04-13T10:15:00.002-04:002011-04-13T10:25:56.456-04:00

This morning I was checking FB and read a status update from someone saying they were longing for Korah.... I immediately said in my heart "Me Too!"Then I paused. I long for a leper colony in Ethiopia?How did I get here???Most people do not understand that longing, most people kind of get a glazed over look as I excitedly talk about our upcoming trip. How did I get here??I have never been

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-8727808860424087372011-04-11T11:52:00.005-04:002011-04-11T12:24:52.553-04:00

It's a lesson I am learning lately...It's Not About Me I have always known it, and thought I was living that way...but God's been having a good time sharing with me this lesson again. The cool thing is that it's been a really good lesson ...in some painful ways and in some really cool ways. He's shown me that life is short and I don't have time to get my panties in a bunch over small inane things

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-52436603076851146982011-04-04T10:01:00.002-04:002011-04-04T10:11:35.795-04:00

What a weekend we just had! We had another yard sale to benefit our Ethiopia Mission trip. It was fantastic, I think we are becoming old pro's at this thing! We weren't able to get into the church until about 4pm on Friday, and the sale was on Saturday morning. We worked furiously from home to get all of our stuff together and then went to work... Here is the blog we will be using for Mission

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-5411751857148502912011-03-28T10:52:00.007-04:002011-03-28T12:37:07.961-04:00

Well, finally the family has all been told that we are adopting...and no real surprises, the people we expected to support us...do. And the people we expected to have an issue...do. So how do you deal with that? Not everyone understands adoption, not everyone is supportive of it, lots of people don't think it's a good idea. And that's ok, it's just sort of disappointing when your own family

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-91008257106021589482011-03-25T10:09:00.002-04:002011-03-25T10:30:19.977-04:00

Hey friends!! So see the Badge over there on the right? ---> The one that says Ordinary Hero?They are doing a matching grant today only... whomever sells enough to get the 100.00 matching grant recveives 200.00 today towards their adoption. How cool is that?! ok 200.00 isn't a huge amount, but it would cover fingerprint costs for USCIS. That's a great step! :)So... Spring is here, there are some

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-23431947321392731612011-03-23T13:35:00.002-04:002011-03-23T14:00:17.450-04:00

ok , this may not be a touchie feelie post...so much has been going on lately that I am working on getting in touch with it all.First the setback: Money...seriously I wish I could in the lottery (gotta play I guess) ...we found out today that we have to pay our post placement fees to our HS agency before they will release the final...to the tune of 1400.00. Ugh... The blessing is that we have

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-63357066585933732612011-03-17T14:40:00.004-04:002011-03-17T16:52:51.096-04:00

Well bloggy friends... God's got a fun sense of humor... what's the saying about having plans of your own? His are always better... not always the same as yours. :)So ... we have begun the journey. HS is done, waiting on some clearances...why are those always the slowest??!Then we can officially claim the 2 BOYS ... that God has chosen for us.Yep 2 BOYS... not any girls.2 Boys that are B age 10

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-41596298731863500362011-03-10T13:19:00.003-05:002011-03-10T13:30:48.138-05:00

I HATE WAIT...Seriously if I could remove the word from vocabulary I would do it....lolBut I know that waiting is part of the process.After we went to get N, we knew that we wouldn't ever be on a list waiting for a child to become available. We saw too many children that needed homes, and after being in Ethiopia in April of last year that was solidified for me. I met too many children that need a

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-117308084483481772011-03-09T14:02:00.002-05:002011-03-09T14:21:59.334-05:00

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”Joshua 1:9 (NIV)So if you are in the adoption world you know what's happening with Ethiopia... you really just can't get around it if you are online. :)If you aren't in the adoption world, you may still already know...but if not, here's the skinny..

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-42006024086010314072011-03-08T08:59:00.002-05:002011-03-08T09:12:26.518-05:00

D and I take a couples study and date night course once a month on the first Friday.This past Friday there was an exercise that we were to do at home. We were to find a picture of our spouses' childhood and see how it might pertain to who they are now.As we were discussing this in the class, D and I were trying to think of pics that we could remember from each other's childhood...he looks at me

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-47248899511224832112011-03-04T15:18:00.003-05:002011-03-04T15:31:09.122-05:00

Well our HS draft is done, just awaitng approval from our agency and for our clearances to come back. YAY!I love our SW! It's great just to do a renewal, so much easier since there's really not all that much she needs to redo, just update a bit. :)So we are approved for 2 kiddos ages 1 - 12. Yeah I know, it's a little crazy, but we decided that we wanted to be open to what ever we could be... I

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-2825190427807457872011-03-03T18:19:00.002-05:002011-03-03T18:21:39.570-05:00

Seriously?! Check out my friend Erin's blog. There's the cutest 3 1/2 yr old little guy on there who is missing his family.Please go look and see if you are that missing family!

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-54831637465482177082011-03-03T10:52:00.003-05:002011-03-03T10:57:42.599-05:00

The Ordinary Hero organization has started a new fundraising opportunity for adopting families!We have become affiliates and would love to share the fun with you, plus you get really great stuff! :)There's a great opportunity as well that they are offering to kick things off. The first family to raise 300.00 in funds gets a matching grant of 300.00 for a total of 600.00. Which in the scheme of

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-65726896576370185692011-03-02T09:00:00.002-05:002011-03-02T09:12:02.994-05:00

Well... that went well. :)I got home a bit early, as I knew S was picking up the boys so that our SW could talk to them in private about our plans to adopt again. Apparently we have to have approval from our kids.As soon as I walked in the door I could smell it... stink... dog stink. Oh man! Really?? So I casually look around for the culprit, as the SW asks to see the boys room. As we walk up the

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-28899663960323797142011-03-01T13:47:00.003-05:002011-03-01T13:55:07.966-05:00

So today! Today is our Home Study Day!!! She's coming to the house and asking us all the questions....She knows us already and knows our kids...this is just a renewal...so why am I so nervous?Does anyone else think it's completely nuts that we have to lay our lives on the line and be the 'perfect' parent in order to... well parent? What if they find out that I am not always the most patient. Or

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-63771567826744228122011-02-25T13:52:00.002-05:002011-02-25T14:07:07.569-05:00

Do you know the song?Great things happen when God mixes with usGreat things happen when God mixes with usGreat and Beautiful Wonderful ThingsGreat things happen when Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood mixes with us....That song has been in my head all day... it's what's been happening around me lately and it's so very awesome to see.He's allowing to be tiny parts of really great things going on

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-23508868841589080512011-02-24T11:47:00.001-05:002011-02-24T11:50:34.136-05:00

No...not us... :)But my friend Rhyan has found the house in Haiti that will become Home to children with hiv.She needs your help. It's 10k to fund the rent for a year...she has broken down the cost in easy increments and if we all help it can happen easily and quickly.I believe in His provision and know that we can all chip in! :)Go to her blog and check it out...it's gorgeous!Give if you can!

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-54860645644774845122011-02-21T16:13:00.002-05:002011-02-21T16:29:16.815-05:00

So since my "Runnin Runnin" post I have been thinking alot about balance.It's tough to find sometimes I think. Don't you? We find all the things we need to do, get overwhelmed and either do them all and become exhausted or do none of them and feel like failures. Ok...that's just me I am talking about.Yesterday in Sunday school we were getting to the end of our Out Live Your Life study, still

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-89007155581190401782011-02-19T14:38:00.002-05:002011-02-19T14:57:53.707-05:00

Hey check this out... I won an award! :) And doesn't it look yummy?! It was a surprise, so I thought I would share it with you. :)Sharon from Gently Mad gave it to me...thank you Sharon!!Here are the rules:Ok. The rules for this one is to list five guilty pleasures. Let's see:1. I spend way too much time reading blogs2. I LOVE popcorn. I pop my own every night, the old fashioned way in a pot

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-78661656955542477182011-02-16T16:35:00.002-05:002011-02-16T16:48:57.074-05:00

Ok, so I don't usually listen to the Black Eyed Peas but their song that says "Runnin, Runnin..." is stuck in my head.Things have been moving forward in life even as I wanted them to stop for a moment so that I could grieve, guess it's good to move forward rather than wallow though huh?We have a couple of fun mission team updates coming, more fundraisers for that. The trip is in June and we have

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-47190465677357870542011-02-15T08:54:00.002-05:002011-02-15T09:11:24.617-05:00

Valentine's Day and the passing of my grandmother has had me thinking alot about love.I had thought, even before all of the recent events that I am truly loved and truly blessed. These past couple of weeks have solidified that for me.I have always known that my grandparents had something special. They had been married 68 yrs. That's a LONG time...it's a lifetime. And even in these last few months

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-23591310776351487502011-02-11T11:42:00.004-05:002011-02-11T11:46:35.131-05:00

In doing the study Out Live Your Life and then the passing of my grandmother (mom), I have been doing some reflecting.Part of the premise of the book is that God asks us to work for Him. To do something that will out live you and Glorify Him.I have been thinking of ‘Mom’s’ life and all that it held. She wasn’t your typical, if there is such a thing, grandmotherly type. She was a lot of spirit in

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-11468510936208609542011-02-10T19:39:00.003-05:002011-02-10T19:57:03.840-05:00

Today we said good bye.. or maybe it's see you later... to my little bitty Grandmother.I never called her grandmother... only mom. She's lived a long amazing life and will be missed greatly! My last time with her was full of love and sweetness. I will always cherish that time with her. She passed calmly and in peace, and with family there telling her she was loved and that God loved her too...

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-23141104921722058882011-02-07T18:57:00.005-05:002011-02-07T19:04:05.152-05:00

My blog has been sadly lacking in amazing boy pics so I thought I would share some.....Sunday was a gorgeous day so we went out to the new park near by and ran off some steam and enjoyed some sunshine...

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-46684606930024660522011-02-04T13:06:00.001-05:002011-02-04T13:08:13.904-05:00

Well things are moving right on along! :)We have turned in our HS paperwork and are trying to get together a date when we can get in to meet with the SW so that we can get it completed. I can’t tell you how excited we are to get this going! I keep reading blogs about parents meeting their children for the first time and remembering when we did that same thing.It’s so funny though…the meetings

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-62047733613754682462011-01-30T21:01:00.002-05:002011-01-30T21:28:00.528-05:00

I am facilitating Sunday school class study on Max Lucado's 'Out Live Your Life'.I will admit to feeling perhaps a bit lost in facilitating this study. It's about finding ways to make a difference in the world. How can we do something for God...be it big or small... but just do something that leaves a God sized mark on the world.There are incredible videos involved and really great study

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-50213786000280473622011-01-28T15:43:00.002-05:002011-01-28T15:54:02.180-05:00

It's been a crazy week...I posted on my FB page that I was excited that I felt like I was getting a handle on things and then whammy we were hit with sick kiddos...lolSee what happens when you say those things out loud? I think I will stop doing that.Both little boys have strep and E man has a viral lung infection. My big Z has the flu and S has a sinus infection. I swear I have been spraying the

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-7454116023535835732011-01-25T15:24:00.003-05:002011-01-25T15:54:39.926-05:00

So...after some issues with Pay Pal, and some set backs with timing it's another Tuesday and the application to get our Home Study completed is down and away!! It's my dad's birthday too!! (lol should I ruin it and tell him I mailed it? TOTALLY KIDDING!!!!!)Gone, out of my hands and in theirs and God's! YIPPEE!!!!We don't know what we will do about moving forward once it's done, because of the

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-7695683881439811732011-01-23T16:52:00.002-05:002011-01-23T17:01:33.016-05:00

Yesterday I was standing in my kitchen talking to D when E-man came to ask a question.There was this moment as if time had stopped and I realized we are a family. Not some weird revelation... but this moment of everything being...right. It wasn't anything E said, or anything profound...I just had a moment of clarity that spoke to my heart. Sometimes life gets ridiculously crazy and there are

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-36488745873673020602011-01-21T16:49:00.002-05:002011-01-21T16:53:35.859-05:00

Wow! Can I just say how very COOL God is?!He is so into the details that I do not know why it is that I am so surprised when He comes up with some of this stuff!It’s a good thing you are sitting down this could take a minute, but I will work on the Reader’s Digest version. Since the call from the agency that stated that China may like us I have been in an interesting state. I posted here that I

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-8585660603856859152011-01-20T21:03:00.002-05:002011-01-20T21:09:59.924-05:00

Gosh who knew how hard a raffle would be?! I mean I want everyone to win... and I guess in a way we all win because the end result is a child/children coming to a new home. :) But you know what I mean...lol I prayed over the names before we drew them, and then S did the honors.So here it goes:Item #1 the T-Shirt goes to: AdeyeItem # 2 the Coffee with a friend: TiffanyItem # 3 The Coffee maker

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-6445924354672321672011-01-20T16:32:00.001-05:002011-01-20T16:34:37.807-05:00

I will be revealing the winners soon... trying to figure out how many entries to give our big benefactor! :)I am going to do the drawing tonight. Oh! And I got the sheets in for item # 4... NICE! They are a queen set in white. Pretty!I have other news as well... but will wait for a longer post just didn't want you to think I would not be telling you who won what yet. :)Thank you thank you thank

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-17229649825998176022011-01-18T21:19:00.002-05:002011-01-18T21:31:31.300-05:00

Wahoo!!YIPPE!!YEEHAW!HECK YES!AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHIf you could have seen me dancing and shaking and whooping and hollering ... you would have thought I was completely crazy!We did it ya'll! We... ALL of us! God showed up and showed off!!!I am not sure what I will ever do if I ever win the lottery...perhaps that's why we don't win, I might just have a stroke or heart failure cause I was SOME kind

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-50933476649741846352011-01-18T14:04:00.002-05:002011-01-18T14:08:07.378-05:00

So, it looks like Chip-In decided to end the raffle a day early... ugh!!!If you still wanted to contribute to the RAFFLE, you still can!!If you did, the info has been saved and THANK YOU!!! I have updated the Chip-In to go one more day because of the issue.I pray it's going to stay up as it's supposed to! WE are at just about 300.00 needed!Thank you ALL again!!

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-81988144961888973032011-01-16T12:53:00.002-05:002011-01-16T13:07:01.800-05:00

Yesterday I told my friend Cindy that I had the faith of a mustard seed.....61% of our funds were raised as of yesterday... I was torn between the enormous blessing that came to us through friends and people we don't even know... and thinking about the mountain that still stands before us financially.This morning God sent a story teller to our church to share her story. You guessed it ...it was

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-84760496098311826972011-01-16T08:09:00.002-05:002011-01-16T08:18:24.287-05:00

I have had a couple of people email and ask if I could extend the raffle for a couple of days. I hope those of you that contributed don't mind, but I have decided to do so. :) I still have everyone's entries, including the ones that were blogged and FB'd about. :) I also hope you understand that the end result is a HS and a child home :) The Chip-In doesn't let you just extend so I had to build a

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-79244746395184863552011-01-15T08:00:00.005-05:002011-01-15T08:33:51.114-05:00

Here's a recap just in case you want to see all the cool things you could win!So here is the deal...Use the Chip-in button to the Right.$5 = 1 entry$10 = 2 entries$15 = 3 entries$20 = 5 entries$50 + = 15 entries and a hug from me if we ever meet!!!Post it to your blog = 1 entryPost it to your FB = 1 entryTweet about it = 1 entryIf you post it elsewhere please leave a comment with a link to your

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-59085805490114558632011-01-14T13:26:00.001-05:002011-01-14T13:28:27.567-05:00

One more day left! We are at 60%!!! Can you hear me whooping and hollering from there?!Oh Praise the Lord!This morning my E-man reminded yet again why we are doing this, why we are putting ourselves out there and asking for money and being humbled. It’s HARD to put it out there that we need help. It’s HARD to put it out there that we aren’t rolling in money. It’s HARD to humble yourself and ask

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-83863986883394636332011-01-13T10:26:00.003-05:002011-01-13T10:31:02.868-05:00

We are on day 3 of the Raffle and almost half way there!!!Again, I am not sure I can express how grateful we are that you all have helped us along this journey!!Now ALL Glory to God who is able through His mighty power at work within us to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Eph 3:20D and I are so excited to begin this journey to our newest addition/s. :) We know that God has

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-28347200357741830162011-01-12T08:50:00.000-05:002011-01-12T08:51:11.507-05:00

Man am I blown away by the generosity! There is no way to thank you for contributing properly! Just know that I have MANY hugs ready to give!!!I wanted to share a little bit about why we are doing this raffle for those of you that may be new to the blog.We are a family that has grown through adoption. We have 2 bio kiddos now ages 21yrs and 17 yrs, we thought we were complete when in 2004 the

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-3449205893103893912011-01-10T21:28:00.002-05:002011-01-10T22:03:02.239-05:00

So here it is! Rea's Random Raffle.. to help us fund our adoption...starting with our Home Study. :) Why Rea's Random Raffle...and who the heck is Rea? Rea is my childhood nickname, the stuff I have to offer isn't as cool as an iPad, it's awesome!...but Random...and it's well a Raffle. :)So here is the deal...Use the Chip-in button to the Right.$5 = 1 entry$10 = 2 entries$15 = 3 entries$20 = 5

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-30596564550488630972011-01-09T14:15:00.002-05:002011-01-09T14:27:07.848-05:00

So much happening these days!Friday was a reflective day for me. I was praying and asking God for direction, looking for His guidance. I then saw the quote that I posted by Mark Hall.Prayed some more, sought council from friends....Then I got home, and we had a phone call....Looks like doors we thought closed are not. Possibilities are now back on the table. We may be going the direction we

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-30260167776764850062011-01-07T16:44:00.001-05:002011-01-07T16:44:35.615-05:00

Jesus never gets in the way of His own plans. He gets in the way of ours. And if Jesus is in your way, you're going the wrong way. - Mark Hall of Casting CrownsSo... which way am I going?

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-45954378812355697582011-01-05T15:33:00.004-05:002011-01-05T15:37:15.369-05:00

The last several weeks have been like a roller coaster of the really cool and the really uncool.We had Christmas which was really cool!Then 14 inches of snow…and in my book that’s really cool too!Then my oldest turned 21 yrs old and had a beer in front of his momma. YIKESThen my sweet hubby and I renewed our vows after almost 18 yrs together, on New Years Eve. What an amazing way to begin the new

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-9994072385043410572010-12-31T15:43:00.011-05:002010-12-31T16:41:53.578-05:00

Re-Married my favorite husband!Had family pictures taken...My Z turned 21!!!We had 14 inches of snow!!!Went to the Adoption Summit...I turned 40!We got to reconnect with some great people!!!Met Steven Curtis Chapman!!!Graduated from PreschoolPlayed SoccerGraduated from Leadership collegeParticipated in baptismHad my heart filled...broken...filled and broken againGot to love on some of my favorite

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-3232844464789893552010-12-29T06:58:00.002-05:002010-12-29T07:16:56.068-05:00

Well, we didn't get out of the holidays without a little spat...My dad and I have one of those relationships that are not always the happiest. We can get along as long as we don't have long periods of time together. I guess this holiday was too much together time. :)It bothers me alot that we still have to have these issues. I mean I am a 40 yr old woman, I am a forgiven daughter of Christ, I

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-56514076775626731802010-12-27T12:46:00.002-05:002010-12-27T12:57:02.325-05:00

That's how old my first born baby is today!How did he get to be so old??? Cause I am so not old enough to have such a grown child! :)So Happy Birthday to my first born. The one that started it all...He's ridiculously smart, very handsome, sweet, has a bit of an ego, loves the Lord and is an all around really good guy! Now he just needs to find him a woman who can see all that and appreciate him!

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-70322111163721013602010-12-26T17:46:00.010-05:002010-12-26T18:53:34.743-05:00

Christmas weekend... has been so much fun!We made Gingerbread housesOpened presents... E was so excited to get these from S!woo hoo!! Money!Not so woo hoo... Nerf Dart guns!And went to Midnight service...lookin all pretty!Played with legos...not sure about the angle....?Had See-Food...Looked all handsome...my little brotherTook a nap and played new gamesmade funny facesSat in our new snuggie,

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-16052092312712974852010-12-24T11:49:00.000-05:002010-12-24T11:52:05.746-05:00

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-21656560815370463422010-12-23T06:53:00.002-05:002010-12-23T07:19:25.681-05:00

So, other than here on the blog we do not announce E's hiv status much. We don't hide it, but it's not like we have him wear a sign every where. This disclosure happened at a friend's home with our church friends. We kind of thought those that we hung out with, knew, like I said we don't share with every one. I mean who walks up to someone and says "Hello my name is Andrea, this is my son E, he

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-79517008598665717272010-12-21T06:42:00.003-05:002010-12-21T06:58:33.938-05:00

It's been a week.Turmoil with that same person at church again... seriously...get with the program... it's about peace on earth good will towards all dude! :)Kids hyped up on all the activities, crazy schedules and of course Christmas cookies and candy.As much as we want to share with our children that this season is all about the birth of our Christ, it gets lost in translation. We take our kids

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-75357439622399746652010-12-16T06:46:00.004-05:002010-12-16T09:00:04.802-05:00

I just had to share this...N and E are so very different. In so many ways... other than perhaps their stubborn streaks...lolN is very busy, always moving, always thinking. He will come up with an excuse or story in a split second. He will try to talk himself out of something before he really knows what to talk himself out of. He's crazy smart and is reading whole books. He loves the colors of the

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-59295373647195434742010-12-13T11:43:00.001-05:002010-12-13T11:44:54.968-05:00

About 3 years ago we were in the process of moving into our second adoption from Ethiopia. It was February then… I was in BJ’s on a Thursday and got a call from our SW who was doing our HS. She had just gotten word that there was a set of twins about to be born in PA to a mother with hiv. They had no families ready and willing to think about this idea. She asked if we would be willing to take

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-52646141382242664752010-12-12T21:32:00.005-05:002010-12-12T22:26:05.901-05:00

This weekend has been full of wonderful reminders of the blessings that abound in my life. I love this ornament. It was such a wonderful reminder to me this weekend that we much always praise Him.So we will Praise him... continually and for always...we will Praise Him in the yes answers and in the no answers. We will praise him when we are happy and when we are sad... We will count it all as

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-9892673717071616592010-12-11T10:06:00.003-05:002010-12-11T10:23:39.045-05:00

Phil 4:11I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens.Test this question: What if God's only gift to you were his grace to save you. Would you be content? You beg him to save the life of your child. You plead with him to keep your business afloat. You implore him to remove the cancer from your body. (You plead for the child in your dreams...inserted by me

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-84350123672293244122010-12-07T15:52:00.002-05:002010-12-07T15:59:27.211-05:00

Ask for prayer and have a conversation with your hubby! :)I hadn't really pushed D on my heart issue with China because I didn't want him to say no. lol Dumb I know, but he's been so adamant about not adopting again that I felt like I needed to just be happy about the way that we were going.But I just could not feel good about moving forward without at least checking to see if they would accept

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-2052303417513611372010-12-05T20:40:00.002-05:002010-12-05T20:56:33.453-05:00

So what do you do when you are given the answer to a prayer you have been praying for, for over a year. What do you do when you have been given the yes? Well, apparently when you are me, you clam up in fear! :)If you have been following this blog for any length of time, you know I have wanted to adopt again for more than a year. I have been LONGING for it... praying earnestly, begging God to

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-56516062264334067782010-12-02T10:08:00.001-05:002010-12-02T10:10:15.336-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, my wedding ring broke. Yep broke. I was putting lotion on my hands before bed and it cracked. Strong lotion I guess?It’s the 3rd time it’s happened in the same place and D’s is getting very worn out. His working construction, and the less than fine quality of the rings…led to them being out of life at the ripe old age of 17 yrs.So we decided that this year for Christmas we

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-71587618726230296352010-12-01T06:32:00.002-05:002010-12-01T06:51:19.395-05:00

Here we are again...It's World AIDS Day 2010It it amazing to me that we are in 2010 and still having days like this... days to bring awareness to open the eyes of people that do not know. Do not know the severity of this illness in it's ability to take out entire generations of people. Yet when managed properly just a chronic illness.The crazy thing is that this illness is 100% preventable. 100%

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-38218015956165963672010-11-27T16:53:00.004-05:002010-11-27T17:10:28.589-05:00

Last Sunday the boys sang for the church. They were so so cute. We weren't sure E would sing with the group because he's never wanted to before, but he stayed up there, and sang and as you can see...sang with gusto. It was so beautiful. Makes me want to cry with joy watching them sing in church every time!The song was done to sign language.... GOOD STUFF! We had the big choir, the praise band,

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-42674954086699771602010-11-26T21:07:00.002-05:002010-11-26T21:13:58.450-05:00

The Truth is contagious. Spread it!Project HOPEFUL invites you to join with us in spreading the truth about HIV/AIDS and children living with the disease. Please watch our video, Truth Pandemic and then share it with five of your friends so they can learn the facts too. Help fight social stigma Join the Truth Pandemic!

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-74231977600444949492010-11-26T09:53:00.003-05:002010-11-26T10:34:30.538-05:00

Happy Friday after Thanksgiving.Yesterday I had a whole thankful post all written in my head, and then the day happened and I had to stop and re-evaluate.I am still thankful! More so than when I woke up in the morning yesterday.It dawned a beautiful chilly morning. D and I got up and dressed for our second annual Turkey Trot. We met with our friends and walked up to the starting line. The race is

Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0