A Day to Praise....

Which reminds me I need to get going on my list! (yet another list :)
But this one has benefits!

11. the anticipation of a new snowfall
12. the smell of freshly baked ginger cookies (we must love molasses!)
13. kids playing together without fighting
14. music that speaks to the soul
15. friends who share God's word with me
16. the blessing of gifts from above...at unexpected times
17. the supernatural ability to praise God in the midst of circumstances
18. ebay :) for Christmas shopping
19. the excitement and drama of watching a story unfold that we will be telling
our whole lives!
20. friends and family who pray with us and for us--interceding to God's throne room! (unthinkable we have access to Him!)

Which leads into my post...that God knows what we need BEFORE we even ask.

The His plan will go unthwarted (I don't think I've ever used that word in a sentence before!)

Rev. 3 If God opens a door it will stay open and NO ONE can close it. If He closes it then no one can open it.

Knowing that God is good to us ALL THE TIME. He has the best in mind for us.
He's always with us.

A few random words of praise from music and His Word today:

In all I do I will honor you.

God with us.

One thing I don't question is You really love me like you say You do.

I will lay it all at Your feet.

(Aaron Shust song)
I do not know what God has willed or God has planned. I'm not skilled to understand. I only know at His right hand sits one who is my Savior. (isn't that enough??? :)

That He would leave His place on high and become a simple man to die...
My Savior loves
My Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me

(another song)
You inspire songs of praise
to glority your name
Your name is a strong and mighty tower
Shelter like no other.
Nothing has the power to save like your name

Give us strength to live for your and glorify your name.

All things wise and wonderful you are. I will sing a song of hope.
Just to know that you are near us is enough.
Just to know you and your love is enough.

I also wanted to share some words my friend John wrote. He's sharing about what He's learned about God through his beautiful wife Jody who is dying of Aids/cancer and has been basically living (and boy does she live!) from their sofa in their home or from a medical table in their home for the last 10 yrs.

They are the greatest testimony I know of anyone who praises God in and for all things. Please read his words....

I’m just wanting to praise Him for all of this.
And I do not want forget to thank Him for sooooooo many things.
I tend to just beg and plead for things that I want Him to “fix” or “do” instead of just thanking Him for who He is and how He loves and how He sustains us.


Jody used to wake up in the morning...
(she was always awake before me, but would quietly and patiently wait for me, her sleepy-headed husband, to finally force my eyes open)
...telling me how grateful she was for things.

She would list them...and she would always find things on her body that did NOT hurt!

She made a point to praise Him for these things; I want to do the same.
I don’t want to ignore or become “used to” or forget ALL the blessings He’s bestowed.

That’s just one of the many things that she has taught me…
that she learned from Him…
because, again, of how He fills her up!

Rainbow Kids

 

Whole Family-in Gingerbread!

 

OH, the COLORS!!!

Yesterday was gingerbread making day. The one day when I don't mind the mess...the sugar, the sprinkles sticking to my feet :)

One thing I have learned...I do not double or triple the recipe and end up decorating them all myself. (sorry mom!)

The red hots were a hit with Carsen. Ellie decorated our WHOLE family...including off the shoulder dresses!

Here are a few pictures from the chaos. Wonder what next Christmas will look like????

Please keep praying about our kids' passports being done quickly...and travel to be soon. I feel like I'm at the "push stage" and the Dr is saying "don't push now"!

We are Finalized!!!

Oh boy have we been waiting to announce this great news! On Friday, November 16th, 2007 we received "the call" from Rachel at Acres of Hope. Ellie answered the phone and knew right away who it was. I was upstairs cleaning the toilet and completely caught off guard. Not expecting it...not even daring to hope anymore. I had shared the night before at a mom's meeting that I wasn't even sure the paperwork had actually been turned in and I was trying to make peace in my heart with that thought.
So what a surprise it was! I know God loves to surprise His children like that. Not with a stone but with something beautiful...something we hardly dare hope and pray for. I feel 10 lbs lighter! Giddy almost. We're having triplets! :)
Now for the kicker...we're still PRAYING and EXPECTING and KNOWING that God can work it out to have us travel to pick them up before the end of the year. Humanly it is absolutely impossible--all three passports have to be applied for and received (Liberia side) visa appointments and interviews need to be set up...and the kids need to be approved by the Consular to get their Visas. Many times they won't get done together so there's a wait. Or they might need more info...or a roadblock might come up. In fact we can't even presume they are "ours" until we're flying in that big plane home. So many, many details out of our control. But God is bigger than red tape...He is in control of it all. He has His plan and it will be perfect whether we travel this year or next year...or they don't come home at all. (I dare not even go there in my thinking)
But will I praise Him if this all falls apart? Will I praise Him no matter what? Do I believe He is sovereign in ALL things...the good and bad? The blessing and trials? I have to. He's God..and well, I'm not.
We are praising Him for this news that has encouraged our hearts!

What does Jesus look like?

Well...today Jesus looked like my friend taking all five kids for the whole day AND night so I could have time just to "be".

He also looked like my friend who skipped staying home to get things done to meet me for a 2 hours plus lunch where we talked, laughed and discussed the frivilous to the spiritual. She had stashed away in her purse for me Sara Groves new CD (she and Sara are tight!) We've even met Sara...no kidding...have a picture to prove it :)
She's my "gift giving" friend who loves to LAVISH others with her kindness and love by suprising them with something they'd never buy for themselves....like the $25 dollar candle she bought for me on Mother's Day. I love it and had it lit tonight.

Tonight Jesus is silence...and the little dog that pads behind me reminding me how much he misses the kids.

He's my husband who called to say "hi"...and that he made it safely to Omaha on his business trip.

He's in the color of the sky when the sun was setting tonight.

He's everywhere. I just have to be looking for Him.

Gentle Ways...

I am amazed and usually humored in the way God tries speaking to me. It takes me several times of hearing a verse over and over...or a friend mentioning the same verse in conversation...or reading it myself to see "ahh...this must be for me, huh God?"
I am floored that he takes the time to do this...to speak just to me in song or words or people. To care about what I'm dealing with. That Lavish Love!

Some thoughts from Him to me this week: His mercies are new every morning!
I do not need to be stuck in the past or even yesterday. He makes each day new...and gives strength to the weary. He gives wisdom without finding fault....and will give GENEROUSLY to anyone who asks!

And this is the funny one....a telephone caller from Mitt Romney's campaign called yesterday...right when I was going to take a nap. I had told the kids NOT to bring me the phone if anyone called...but Chloe either didn't hear or didn't obey. This lady was SO sweet. I'm not sure what made me take her "poll"...which was one question. But then she went on to praise my 6 yr old for the way she answered the phone and then went on and on about how good homeschooling is.....I told her thanks I needed to hear that and about did the ugly cry on the phone with her! A message from God through a campaign caller! :)

I have some pretty special friends who are Jesus' hands and feet. Thank you.

Gifts:
6. my 3yr old telling me "mom, you're BOO-TIFUL!
7. the same 3 yr old sitting as CLOSE to me as he can when I'm reading to him
8. my 8yr old son being concerned about how I'm feeling that day
9. my 12 yr old being THRILLED with her hair-cut! (and thanking me)
10. hearing the girls sing spontaneously together-trying to harmonize

Sunset in Iowa (Africa has nothing on us :)

Gifts from the Giver....

I have SO enjoyed reading a blog by Ann called Holy Experience (holyexperience.blogspot.com) and have been encouraged to start my own list of 1,000 gifts I'm thankful for.

I'm not going back...I am starting in the present and will try jotting them down every fews days and maybe figuring out how to keep them in their own little file so I can go back frequently and be reminded of each simple blessing.

I love what Ann says: My list is different than another's for a reason: God has made me uniquely me. The Gift List is about gratitude... but it is more. It is about what defines me and my own personal identity. I am thankful for the things on it, yes, but I am also thankful that He has given the gift of me; that God made me who I am and I am one who sees and experiences the world in a way uniquely her own. The Thousand Gifts list is about the gifts Abba gives this child every day... and, ultimately, about the very gift of self, life as I know it.

I am seeing things I have never seen before, atuned and aware of this constant, endless stream of gifts from His hand. I am one waking from slumber....from the stupor of indifference and ignorance. I have sight, fresh and keen---the world is new and full of His gifts.

Too often I miss Him, oblivious, blind. I don't see all the good things that He is giving me, gracing me with, brushing my life with. True, He is everywhere, always. But maybe, before The Gift List, I thought of Him as further off, not so close. When I started to see all the things that I love bestowed upon me, I started to see Him as near, present, everywhere, showering me with good things. Seeing the things I love all around me gives me eyes to see that I am loved, that He loves me.


George MacDonald wrote, "No gift unrecognized as coming from God is at its own best...when in all gifts we find Him, then in Him we shall find all things."

It is the season of lists. Care to begin a list of a Thousand Gifts? You'll find Him in all things---the very best gift of all.

Father, You are the Giver of all Good Gifts. They are everywhere. I can hardly jot them down fast enough. How You love!

(doesn't she have such a way with words???)
Not my gift :)

So.......here's to the beginning.

1. an amazing golden sunset--My favorite part of the day is just before dusk.
I always want to call up my dear friends John and Jody and share the beauty of it with them. They are an amazing couple...a story for another time (which leads to..)

2. John and Jody-they show love, love, love like no one but Jesus himself!

3. my hardworking farmer/husband who has spent the afternoon cutting wood up to keep us warm this winter

4. freshly baked brownies from the oven...and a little 3 yr old who messes with the timer telling me "they're done!" before they are ready :) It's ok, I like gooey brownies!

5. watching the girls ride or work with our ponies Joe-Joe and Lucy (I love the way horses smell!)

Another One Down....

So another week has gone by...another month gone by. I think in the "adoption waiting world" Fridays with no news are called Black Fridays.

We were told the kids would be in the October finalization group. Obviously, it didn't happen. So we're into November. And I'll keep checking e-mails and waiting for a phone call.

When it does finally happen I'll probably say "Rachel WHO?" (she and her husband are the new AOH people in charge of all the adoption "stuff" in the U.S.) They are newly adoptive parents as well (VERY newly) so I know they know what all this waiting feels like.

I just read on someone's blog that adoption is much harder than pregnancy. I think I'm with them. There's no "due date"...no Dr appt to check how things are going...no movement...nothing but this thread of hope that maybe sometime we'll be actually flying to Liberia.

So again I just say...Lord I know it's not the right time. Your ways are perfect. You don't have to explaing anything to me...I can rest that you are in control of every little detail even across the Ocean (but please check to make sure our paperwork is not getting over looked?? :)

Strong Tower

 

Strong Tower....

I love this picture of Chloe (6ys and FEARLSS!) She's at our neighbor's Harvest Party climbing the infamous rock tower. It's really not that tall...but in the picture it looks like she's hanging off Mt Everest!

It reminds me WHO our strongtower is. I don't have to cling to life, hopes and dreams with a fearful grip...that I will fall if I don't do something right.
God is my shelter and He covers me under His wings.

Here are a few verses from Cutless' Strong Tower song:

When I wander through the desert
And I'm longing for my home
All my dreams have gone astray
When I'm stranded in the valley
And I'm tired and all alone
It seems like I've lost my way

I go running to Your moutain
Where your mercy sets me free

[chorus]
You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I seek

In the middle of my darkness
In the midst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul

Our friends with our kids--how cool!!

 

Silly Girls! (Marie on right)

 

More Pictures....Just Because.....

Here are a few more pictures of the kids....My daugther set it up so they constantly scroll through on our computer....but you blogger fans can't see them so I'll post them here.

I'm trying to quit thinking of all the ways that this isn't going to work out...that one (or more of these precious kids won't be coming home with us)

I know God has a plan and I'm trying to just focus on that and that He knows the big picture.

So when I get anxious here's what I do:

1. I've cleaned the top of our entertainment center (that never gets seen...let alone dusted!)

2. cleaned our stove...taking apart the silly grill that does nothing but catch pancake batter on it...even cleaned out that drip tray that catches everything I boil over!

3. cleaned the fish tank...that alone makes me feel very productive and together :)

4. ate one Hershey bar (I didn't even wait for it to thaw out) and a Dilly Bar from DQ

5. I'm baking oatmeal bread but I know it flopped

6. Cleaned our shower...even the big rust spot! (mostly because we have company!)

7. Stuck my hand into all the cracks of the sofas and chairs (nasty!) That's because we lost a library book. (not there!....but found lots of other interesting things...like what my kids eat when they're not to be eating in the living room)

8. I think I'm going to color my hair again...... :)

***I better add that this didn't happen all in one day. I'm not THAT obsessive!!

Wouldn't it be so much easier if I could just get out shopping!!!!

 

Fun, Food and Family....

Last week the girls and some friends went to the Todd Agnew/Rush of Fools concert. What an awesome time (even though it was loud and rocky...I know! I must be getting old:)

I love how God creates us all so differently...how we can worship God in such unique ways. And what an incredible message they all have! The most encouraging was the opening act Joy Whitlock who has an amazing testimony. Her first CD is coming out in April. She's was anti-Jesus her whole life...preacher's daughter...rock band...bar player...and saved just 3 yrs ago at the Passion of Christ movie. Her lyrics are deep, honest and worshipful.

How easy to think that everyone (Christians) should look the same, talk the same, worship the same. But God made our unique personalities...gave us gifts and is only concerned in conforming us into HIS image...not to look exactly like each other.

On the way home we spontaneously decided to go out to eat at Perkins at 12am. (it started with lost car keys!) The girls thought it was so much fun having choc. chip pancakes, biscuits and gravy and omelets that early (or late!) I'm too old for this too! What great memories we'll have of that night.

Now the family part: We've had Dave's Uncle visiting this week. (his annual visit from Chicago) He was going to stay until Sat. but left (I think RUNNING!) today. I think the noise...the kids...and actually our 3 yr old not wearing his shoes/coat outside finally pushed him over the edge. I think he felt bad and called from the road kind of apologizing.
He's been a bachelor for 78 yrs...so this is a big thing for him to do)
Dave's 2 sister have been here as well. It's been an interesting mix of food, ideas and conversations.
Plus if you can believe it...the furnace quit working AND the dishwasher...so we had repairmen in and out all this week too!
(I kept telling them that we really don't live like this all the time!) I'm sure they thought we were nutso with kids, relatives, and dogs running around the house!

Gbanko (Josie)

 

Garlayma (Isaac)

 

Marie (left) and friend

 

New Pictures of Our Kids

We're still waiting for the phone call saying it's "final" so we can move onto phase #2...the passport wait...then the pre-visa interview and visa wait. Seems like we'll never get to Africa to bring them home.

With hearing about several lost referrals of kids lately...I have to keep reminding myself these 3 aren't "our" kids...just like our bio kids aren't "ours". If this is the Lord's plan...HE WILL do it.

We did receive some new pictures this past weekend...I'll post a few. Seems like they have gotten so much bigger each time we get pictures!

I notice the biggest change in Gbanko (aka Josie) Her earlier pictures she had tears in her eyes now she's smiling and even acting goofy.

I keep praying God is preparing them-as well us our family-for this big change.

Olivia is 11!!!!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVIA!!!!!

Olivia, our 2nd daughter, is 11 years old today. The older you get the quicker years go by....I'm sure of that now. Someone said the days may seem long...but the years fly by. How true!

Enjoy your day sweetie. You are sunshine, smiles and sweeteness...and a real blessing in our lives. WE LOVE YOU!!!

Mom and Dad

Fun Night...

Tonight our family had the priviledge of seeing the African Children's Choir in concert. They were amazing! I thought I would bawl through the whole thing. The first few minutes were touch and go :) ...but their energy and joy were contagious! If you get a chance to see them....GO!

Our little Josie's friend Zoe Rose (lives about 2 hrs from us) now has her little sister Grace with her! Their family got the call Friday that she was in a plane coming to Chicago. They've had quite an emotional wait getting her.

I'm going to try to post pictures of our son Carsen with their son Isaac. They are the same age and we couldn't believe how much they look (and act alike :)

A Glimpse of the Future

Last Saturday night we went to the 2nd annual Liberian picnic in Cedar Rapids. It was fun seeing families we already knew and others that we just met. I wish I would have gotten a picture....there was a whole mess of kids! (20+ adopted Liberian kiddos and all their siblings)

It was bittersweet that our kids weren't there...but it gave us a hope in hearing all the stories how God literally worked miracles bringing all these kids to Christian homes in the US. It will be amazing to see the work God is doing in these kids' lives!

I met an adult Liberian that tried showing me the Liberian snap handshake (about 10x!) I'm a sloooow learner.

Donna (from Acres of Hope) this morning who said that our finalization should be done anyday now. That when she was in Liberia a few weeks ago our files were in the Liberian courts. Hearing that has me hoping and praying we'll get another call from Donna this week....then onto the next stages of waiting for passports and visas.

We did get a new pictures of Gbonko (Josie) today. She looks really silly and happy....much different from the other sad-eyed pictures we have of her.

On the "farming side" our hay is getting soaked. Dave cut this weekend and it's been raining all day today. Not a good thing. Thankfully we don't rely on hay to pay the bills! I even got a call Sunday afternoon from the "farmer" that he had run out of gas down in the neighbor's field....so off I went to the rescue with a full container of gas. (who says I'm not a farmer's wife?! :)
Teresa

The "Attack"

Today is the day I "should" have started school. But...I don't even have all the kids' math books ordered yet. (I did get closer and actually looked at the website and called our homeschool assistance program so they can order the Teacher's books/cd) I'm more stuck on "how do I get our daily life organized" right now. Isn't that just like Satan to attack something so seemingly simple and basic? There have been fights/attitudes/disobedience....and we haven't even started "real" school yet.

Last night we heard an amazing speaker, Norm Wakefield from Elijah Minstries (www.spiritofelijah.org) We left encouraged....to encounter God...to turn our hearts towards our children....to fight the good fight.

Today I feel pierced to the core and defeated. This is just too important of a battle to give in to though. So I will not listen to the lie of "how in the world do you think you can handle MORE children??" Instead I will believe God's truth that the work He started in me He WILL COMPLETE....that in my weakness, HE is strong.

A simple song we've been listening to today by the Weissman family says "Commit, trust, delight and rest." (the "Fret Not song") A simple message. The power is in the Holy Spirit....I will do more asking...and more believing...and more resting.

God...please make tomorrow better than today! And give me YOUR wisdom.

Bread Making 101

OK. After several years I am trying this again. I have the grinder...and the big ol' mixer (how homeschoolish is that?) Setting up this blog maybe gave me courage...plus a friend had borrowed it and all 6 of her loaves turned out PERFECT! :)

So after 18 c. of flour....during the "sponge" phase....I realize this whole batch is a flop....a 20# flop. I killed the yeast with water that was too hot. I truly wanted to scream and throw the whole thing out in the yard. My mind is racing for other options as all five kids are watching me. Okay. Playdough time! They all started making their own "unleavened" rolls, crackers (they weren't too bad) and pita bread. Nothing really tasted great...they added ALOT of garlic salt for some reason. So most of it went to the chickens and horses. The horses LOVED the crackers!

After realizing my mistake I had to try again or thought it might be another 3 yrs. So I just made 1/2 batch this time. I must say they turned out fair...not perfect, not beautiful but edible. So I will be trying this again. (or my girls will) They really really want to make bread and sell it. So this can be their deal. I've shown them "how not to do it now"!

Enjoy this BEAUTIFUL Labor Day weekend. We're heading off to cattle farm near Kalona to hear Norm Wakefield speak. Really. Not sure how this is going to work. Several other families we know are going...there will be a potluck, singing and a hayrack ride. The big question: what to wear??? Jean skirt? (I'm really just kidding here) I do homeschool too!

Curious Things...

Ellie and Olivia LOVE hamsters. They each have one...known affectionately as Sweet~Pea and Tickles. They have a Suite in their closet....they have b-day parties (special homemade b-day cakes required!)...half b-day parties...they e-mail other hamster friends.



Now I know the lifespan of these creatures is pretty short...probably 3 yrs max....but they provide HOURS of entertainment and clean-up opportunities :)....not to mention the cute photo props! The girls save Barbie items...fabric...decorations...anything to use for props. And I'm SURE Sweet~Pea knows how to pose for the camera! Do you think this could count for homeschooling????? :) Animal study? Sewing? Photography? (I'm grasping here!)



We may be having babies in about 8 days....we'll keep you posted! My girls inform me they can have two-SIXTEEN babies!!! (have I talked anyone into trying a hamster yet?? :)

Never.

I will NEVER admit how long it's taken me to set up this blog...to anyone! I think I just set a world record. Whew.

I never thought I would do this....I'm a "I COULD do that" person :)

Anyway...enjoy a look into our everyday life, questions and thoughts!

YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE...

(to make a good impression!) Right now I'm thinking less is more...as my farmer says...I tend to talk waaaay too much (especially when I'm nervous!) So I will use the advice of a wise person that "Silence is my friend".


So here it is. My first entry. (this is very scary!) New things scare me to death. I've learned that it probably stems back some where to "fear of failure" or "fear of what others will think of me". Total lie. Perfect love casts out fear. And if you never make mistakes-you'll never learn.


Here I am jumping in with both feet. I'm going to be real. I'll share my questions, fears and doubts because we all have them and learn by them. We don't learn from the "perfect" people. In fact I feel terribly uncomfortable around them!


A little about our clutch. My girls don't like that word but it just means a nest of eggs from a bird or reptile...and since we have chickens...it makes sense to me :)

The Farmer and I have been married 15 years. He really isn't a farmer. When I want to really tease him I say "you're no farmer" hence his name! We've been blessed with 5 children,
Ellie (12) Olivia (10) Caleb (8) Chloe (6) and Carsen (3) They are all amazingly different!

We started our adoption process with Acres of Hope in Mar. of '07. We had our homestudy done in Feb. then heard about a group of siblings from a friend shortly after that. We chose them from the "Waiting kids" list as they are a sibling group of three older children which tend to be harder to place. As of today we're in the "waiting for the finalization in Liberia" stage.


This process has been amazing...to see God's hand in this (many times after we've made a step) There are so many things I could share about how we got here....but I said less is more, right? :)


About our Liberian kids....Marie "Marie Alison" (9) Garlayma "Isaac Garlayma" (7) and Gbanko "Josie Gbanko" pronounced like bongo drum (4)

They are simply beautiful. The kids and I KNEW immediately that these were our kids/siblings. I never understood how that could happen. Now I do. For the Farmer...it took a little longer! It was a shock thinking 2...and then 3.


We live on about 10 acres. We do have a big red barn....I will post pictures someday (when I figure it all out) Right now we have 2 ponies, 41 (ish) chickens, 2 dogs, several cats and kittens, a fish and 2 hamsters. We just sold our last donkey...there go all the funny jokes!


I LOVE the country! I love the colors, the sounds and the beauty of it. It's our dream and God has blessed us with it.


I do homeschool the kids (no I don't sew, can veggies-yet-or write my own curriculum-sorry!) In fact most of the time I don't have a plan or clue. I'm trying to focus on the "next one thing" that God would have me teach the kids. My prayer is "God help me!" (everyday)



Ok. I hear the farmer in my head saying "enough already!" So I'll stop. You know more than you probably wanted to about me now. And I DID say too much (again!)