Let's Talk HIV

OK, so I really don't know a lot about this subject but I do have a LOT of questions about this subject.

First of all WHY? Why is it that when Jesus walked the earth that he spent his time ministering to those that were poor or "unclean" but yet we as God's children are scared to death of the word HIV.

Why is it that we as a very blessed nation are sooooo mis-educated on HIV?

Why is it that people that have HIV have to hide from it or people will look at them and treat them different?

Why is it that when someone is looking at list of special needs children and see a beautiful face but next to the face is the word HIV, why do they then look away?

Why are churches not reaching out like crazy to those with HIV?

I wonder if it was the face of Jesus in one of those pictures with the words HIV next to it would we be so quick to look away?

How do you feel about HIV? Does is scare you?

If you want to see some beautiful children that need families, innocent children that happen to have those 3 letters by their name, just click here.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for a couple different things. First of all I have been busy, busy, busy putting stuff on ebay. When we got our tax check in the spring we set aside a very small part of it to use to find away of multiplying it. Linny had taught me to pray for hidden treasures and that is exactly what I started doing. We then started buying lots (as in a lot of things that we didn't even know what we were buying) of things and then we turn around and sell them. It's not making us rich by any means but we have been able to buy 2 dogs (which we plan on breeding) and a broken down van that will be just fine when my auto tech husband fixes it. This all happened with just a little money we set aside asking God to multiply it. I pray that by next year it will multiply enough to bring another child home (who knows maybe even 2).

Second thing I am thankful for is adoption fundraisers. How cool is this really? Chris and I never, ever buy things for ourselves unless we have to. We do buy some things for our kids but not usually unless they need it or it's birthdays or Christmas.

The thing is though with adoption fundraisers we have a very good excuse to buy. How cool is it that by buying something from someone that is raising money to bring a child home that we get to be a small part in that child having a forever family. Not that we have to get something in return to give to helping a child come home but really it is a good excuse and fun to help a family out.

So a few weeks ago I posted about my new bow addiction that I had but it was to help a family adopting. So here are the pics of the ones we kept for ourselves (we bought some to give away too).

So if you know of a family trying to raise money for an adoption go buy something, it's a good excuse!

She's Growing Up

Our little tiny miracle baby is no longer a baby. I'm sitting here in tears even writing this. Saturday she wanted a special day with mommy and daddy to go school shopping. We let her pick where she wanted to go eat and then we went and got everything she needed for school. How can she be ready to go to school already? It seems like just yesterday that we found out God had given us this miracle baby and now she is going to school in a couple of weeks. Can you tell I'm sad about this?

That same night after me being emotional enough about sending her off to school I found out she has 2 loose teeth. That is just too much for me to have to take in for one day.

Don't Forget About Tomorrow

This is a reminder for you that tomorrow is the day that people from all over the world will be fasting for the healing of Cindy. Please consider taking part in this fast whether it be one meal, 2 meals or a 24 hour fast.

For more information on this go read Linny's blog. You will have to scroll down a little bit but she even has a post on how to prepare your heart for fasting.


CLICK HERE

Reece's Rainbow

Hey,
Reece's Rainbow has a new site up so go check it out here.

Thankful Thursday

This Thankful Thursday I am thankful for stars. A few days ago our precious puppy woke me up at 3:30AM and this is not normal for her. I got out of bed a little grumpy thinking I had to take a dog out at 3:30. I walked outside and there was this amazing sky full of stars. Isn't it times like that that you just feel God all around you? It amazes me that God gave us all this beauty to look at. I love when my kids look at a sunset and say "look how God painted the sky tonight."

When I came back to bed that night my attitude was so much different. Chris asked me what was wrong with Kai-Kai and all I could say was "do you know how beautiful the sky is at 3:30 in the morning?"

So this Thankful Thursday I thank God for the beautiful skies he gives us.

The Cuties I Have Fallen For

These are the 2 cuties pie's I have fallen head over heals for. As much as my heart wants to go and bring these cuties home the reality is that the country they are in would make it very hard for us to go to having 3 young children at home.

I cry when I see these pictures though because I have seen pictures of what will happen to these precious beauties if they don't find a family. Once these kids turn 4 their future is very, very grim. Why does this have to happen?

Little Hailee on my sidebar is from the same country these children are from. Praise God she is being rescued from the life she is living.

So for now all I can do is pray like crazy that God rescues these precious children. I can pray that more Christians will answer God's call to adoption. I can pray that people will start seeing Jesus in the eyes of these children.

What If It Were You?

This morning I went to a blog that a friend had emailed about. I was brought to tears when I read this blog because it is a mom of 10, mostly adopted, and this mom is dying from cancer. Can you imagine?

Linny just posted on her blog about this lady and she is challenging everyone to stand in prayer for this lady on Monday. Please, please go read Linny's post here and please consider standing in prayer for this family.

What if it were YOU?

My Virtual Twins

Monday-Part 2

OK, I just read what I wrote earlier and things have calmed down a bit here so I better explain the last part a little more before people that I know start freaking out.

We are not seriously considering these 2 kiddos to bring home, yet. We do not know what God has planned for us but God is nudging us right now. I know many, many people do not understand why we would even consider something like this but that's OK.

We do know that more than likely our family is not finished yet. We do know that our hearts are with special needs kids. We do know that our hearts break or should I say get torn apart when we see what special needs kids in other countries have to live in. Actually it might even be more accurate to say the conditions they are left to die in.

So I guess a pre-warning here that Chris and I will do what we feel God tells us to do and it doesn't matter if people agree with us or not. Some I'm sure would wonder how we could even consider doing something like this and if it would be fair to our children. I say how could we not do what we are ask of God because it would not be fair to our children.

So just to make it clear we are not starting the adoption process yet but we do have our eyes and ears open to hopefully know when God does say "GO".

Mondays

OK, am I the only stay-at-home mom that dreads Mondays? For real what happens to the kids between the time they go to bed on Sunday night until the wake up on Monday morning?

We have good kids but man Monday's are not so good. All three of the kids woke up grumpy, all three kids have already spent time in their beds twice, one of them 3 times because they can't seem to be in the same room together and it's only 9:21 AM.

Please Lord help me get through this morning.

All this and I am crazy enough to be talking to Chris about bringing 2, yes 2 kids home that have down syndrome. If your family and reading this don't get scared because God has a lot He would have to put in place to make this happen but who would have thought we would have been able to bring home Jaxson.

Please, someone post something to make me laugh or smile. Rett, are you out there? Please make me smile this morning!

Day At Uncle Walt's

Yesterday my Uncle Walt and his wife Robin had the family over for a day of fun. They have some really cool land and we had a blast.

Can you tell the creek was a hit with the kids?

Uncle Nathan was showing the kids some fish.

A lot of the family spent the night so they had tents and a camper set up and the kids loved it.

We all had lots of fun on the 4-wheelers and I'm thinking we need one, maybe 2 of them now.

Look, even my mom had fun on the 4-wheelers!

Chris, Jaxson and I came home because Jaxson has a hard time at night. We have had 3 good nights with him and we weren't about to ruin that. It was a 3 hour drive home and after Jaxson talked non-stop for 2 hours he finally fell asleep. Snicker's decided he wanted to sit on Jaxson's lap.

Thankful Thursday

About a month ago I was reading a blog that brought me to tears. For some crazy (did I say crazy?) reason I walked straight out of the room and told Chris we should turn our TV off for a month. Chris said "YES, let's do it"! I had just paid the dish bill so we decided to wait until the new bill was due.

Let me tell you that ever since that moment Satan has worked on me big time and told me that was crazy and that I would miss my favorite shows and I wouldn't have HGTV to show me how to sell the house.

This Monday was the day to call to turn it off. To be honest I was sick to my stomach about it and that is just stupid. I really don't even watch much TV but I LOVE So You Think You Can Dance and I will miss the rest of the season of it. When I got thinking about it though it made me even more sick to think about the way they dance sometimes and yet I sit there with my husband watching this show. I not only watch this show I can't wait until the day it comes on so I can spend 2 hours, 2 nights in a row sitting watching this show.

Well, Chris called and got it turned off and it has been the BIGGEST blessing ever. Do you know what we did Monday night? Chris and I sat together (with dogs licking us all over) and talked for 2 hours. This also happened Tuesday night and then last night we had a family night and went out.

Do you know what happens in the morning? There is no depressing news to watch so instead we get a cup of coffee and spend the time reading the Bible and in prayer. Wow, who would have thought that even though I didn't think I watched so much TV that I didn't realize how much time it was taking away from God and my family.

I am so thankful that God whispered in my ear that morning to shut the TV off. I am thankful for that extra time I have with God. I am thankful for the extra special moments I have with my family now that we had been missing out on because we were watching TV.

A Very Special Child

Amaya was sitting at the computer with me a little while ago and she saw the picture of Hailee on the sidebar. She said "oh Mom, look at that beautiful baby". I explained to her that Hailee looks like a baby, Hailee is the size of a baby, but little Hailee is the same age as Paige.

Amaya then looked at me with the saddest eyes and ask me why a 4 year old would look like that. I explained to Amaya that she has been living in an orphanage and she hasn't been able to get the care she needs to grow healthy like them. I then told her though that we have a very awesome God and that God found an incredible mommy and daddy that is fighting to bring home Hailee like we fought to bring home Jaxson.

Amaya started grinning from ear to ear and then she said "Mommy, God is going to help us find a very special child to bring home too". Oh I pray God helps us bring home another very special child. It brings tears to my eyes knowing that my 5 year old knows how much God loves these kiddos.

Bathroom Fun

See the fun Paige and Jaxson had in the bathroom?
OK, ignore the totally ugly pink and green tiles you see (somebody can call HGTV to Save Our Bath) and notice the blobs of wet toilet paper all ever the bathroom. When I say all over the bathroom I mean ceiling, floor and walls, THE ENTIRE BATHROOM.

Can you tell they had a blast?

We had a very busy weekend so I had to just clean up the big mess and today I am finding little pieces of dried up toilet paper all over the house.

Oh to be a kid again and have the greatest time ever getting globs of toilet paper wet and decorating the house with it.

Looking Forward To That Day

Last weekend in church the sermon was on end times and how it looks like it could be getting very close. I have been thinking about this all week. Just a few year ago I completely freaked out when anyone ever talked about it. I was so scared of the unknown that I would have nightmares about it.

The day of 9/11 I was so terrified that it was the end of the world that Chris had to come home from work to calm me down.

Today when I hear someone talking about end times I get so very excited. How crazy is that? In just a few years I went from being terrified to praying that day comes.

I can't wait for the day to stand in God's presence with other people all around that love God also. I can't wait for the day my heart doesn't cry out for orphans and children starving all over the world. I can't wait for the day my heart no longer breaks for those that want babies so bad and can't have them, I've been there I know the pain.

I can't wait for the day I don't have to worry about things anymore or sit and pay bills. I can't wait for that glorious day my Jesus returns.

How do you feel about that day? Are you scared or do you feel a peace about it?

A Thousand Questions

I Believe God Is Smiling Today

I woke up to the most exciting post this morning on a blog I have been following for a few months now.

A few months ago I found this blog No Greater Joy Mom through a comment she had left on Linny's blog. I can't even remember what day I first stumbled upon this blog but I knew right then God had led me to her blog. I cannot tell you how many times God has spoken to me through reading this ladies blog. This is a mom that is REAL and tells it like it is. This is a mom who has a HUGE heart for God and for orphans. This is a mom that is honest when it is not always a good day. This is a women of God that encourages you to stretch your faith.

Why do I believe God is smiling today? I know God is smiling today because there is a precious, beautiful child of God's, made in God's image, lay dying on a bed on the other side of the world. A little girl 4 years old but weighs the same of a child that is 6 months old. Today though, walking in complete faith, not knowing how but knowing God knows how, there is a family fighting for this child to be called theirs. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt this is one of those things that has to make God smile.

Please go read their story and who knows you could just be blessed by reading this blog. All you have to do is click here.

I Have Gone Bow Crazy!

OK, I have totally gone bow crazy! Since I found out about the incredible sale at Sara Beth Bows and getting the OK from my incredible husband due to it being a good cause, I have gone bow crazy.

I won't even tell you how many bows I have ordered (I really don't even know) but let's just say several. The lady sent me my invoice last night and to my surprise a wonderful friend had found out about my new bow addiction and had bought a gift certificate for me. I was so very excited and well that meant I needed more bows.

This morning I got thinking that they would make wonderful Christmas presents so I added even more bows to my order.

So if you want to get in on this incredible sale you better do it now before I end up buying more. Just click here if you want to get in on the sale before I buy her out.

PS My friend Rett is having surgery in a couple hours, could you please pray for her?

Thankful Thursday On Friday

I can't believe I missed Thankful Thursday. I was so worried about my friends Dwight and Linny that it completely slipped my mind.

So this Thankful Thursday I am thankful for prayer. What do people who don't believe in God do when they are at very hard times in their lives? Really, I don't know the answer to this. I have been a Christian my entire life so really what do they do?

There are times in my life where I honestly don't think I could have made it to the next day if it weren't for prayer.

I only know Linny and her family through the internet and I have talked to her on the phone but she has been such a mentor to me. I was at a place in my life where I was needing challenged and Linny did that. Linny not only challenged me but has challenged Chris big time.

Linny has taught Chris and I soooo much about prayer and I sure hope she writes a book on it someday. She has taught us to be very specific in our prayers and to ask for exactly what we want or need. She has taught us how to fast and have a clear heart before God before fasting.

Yesterday I was hurting so bad for my friends Dwight and Linny and their family. Even though I don't know them as physical friends that I can spend actual time with, they are very dear to our hearts. The only thing I could do for them was pray.

If it weren't for prayer I would go crazy!


OK, now to totally change the subject. My friend Jeanette posted on her blog yesterday about these bows that a lady is making to raise money for her adoption. I went and checked out the blog and oh my goodness they are beautiful bows. I have never bought many bows for the girls because they are expensive and well we are pretty frugal people.

This lady is having a HUGE sale to get rid of her existing inventory and the bows are half price. If you put your button on your blog you get and extra 10% off. I ask Chris if I could order some bows because it was for a good cause and he told me to go for it. Well, I put in a very big order for bows last night. If you have a little girl in your life you need to go check out these bows and do it quick and get in on the sale. I put her button on my sidebar that you can go click on, Sara Beth Bows.

I am so excited about getting bows for the girls!

Please Pray!

My friends Dwight and Linny need your prayers desperately! Dwight is very sick and has been admitted in a hospital 1200 miles from home where their son just had surgery. Please pray and go leave them a comment letting them know people are praying all over the world.

CLICK HERE to go to their blog.

Did You Do It???

Have you done your random act of kindness yet? If you have please leave a comment and let me know what you did.

On the way to work this morning Chris went and bought a gas card and left it on a pump at the gas station.

I just went thru a drive-thru and paid for the car behind me. My mom and I were just talking about it before I did it and she ask what would happen if the car behind was ordering for 15 people. I told mom that if it were 15 people they were buying for then it was 15 people that I was supposed to be buying for it didn't matter. You know what, it only cost me $3.

I think I need to print up a bunch of cards and just put them in my car and make this something that I don't do on a certain day but do whenever I feel like making someone smile. I was just thinking this morning by just leaving a quarter lay on the ground somewhere that someone would easily find it you would bring a smile to someone.

Another thing I thought of is if I lived closer to a NICU I would leave a gift card at the nurses station for a parent of a baby in there. Paige was a NICU baby and just let me say there are some very tiny babies in there that the parents will be there sometimes for months.

So anyway I can't wait until the next Random Acts of Kindness challenge but I am also going to try harder to make it something that I do regularly.

Don't forget to leave a comment and let me know how it went for you!