Insightful??????

I wish I had something really profound to say, but I don't know if I do.

I am fighting a cold, exhausted from a long day of stable work, kid care, organizing kids and running all over, and once again revamping how we run things around here.  There is so much to do!!  And we are living in limbo right now - I don't know when I am going to Ethiopia, and we are still waiting for those refunds to be deposited into our account.  So, a wait is a good thing to give it time.  I have a long day tomorrow, fewer bits of running around, but lots of home work to do.  But, I have the suitcases down and ready to work on packing!

I am trying to come to terms with not knowing what is going to happen in the next couple weeks.  I like to have things planned out, to know what is happening and when.  My calendar can barely be looked at right now.  There are so many question marks on it!  And the reality of doing life with toddlers as well as our crew!  It will be great, but it is also so nerve wracking, knowing the change is coming, envisioning it, but not yet seeing the reality.  Soon!!!!

I am so tired.  I have been reading a lot lately.  Sleep is not my best friend right now.  Too much going on.  So, instead of stewing, I read.  I have been able to get some books off of my bookshelf and off to paperbackswap.com.  Yay!  I am trying to declutter and simplify as much as possible before our lives change yet again!  I got the beds put up in the little girls room, and are prepping the walls in the big girls room for the big painting project!

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Pay It Forward Everyone!

You know, it was one of those days.  In a good way.

There have been so many times that folks have blessed us as we have walked this road, and yet again yesterday, the phone rang and it was beyond belief.  We are so grateful, so thankful, so understanding of the grace we have been blessed with.

So, we got to pay it a bit forward today!  We got to help a lovely lady who struggles with physical issues.  I know that she felt bad - she kept trying to find things to do for us.  Not that I am not grateful, but we did it because we could.  There are so many things that we simply cannot pay back to the people who stepped up for us.  I have no idea who all donated to Reece's Rainbow - but you have helped significantly on our post adoption fees!  We decided that this is where we would have it go.  Yes, there are fees AFTER you adopt.  Because there is yet work to do.  We have a lovely social worker who is going to help us with all the transition and write up a report for the court for the readoption - in the state of WI, you will readopt your child to get them a WI birth certificate.  It is honestly basically a fun formality, we get to stand before the judge and claim our children as our own publicly.  But, the adoption agency has work to do to get that done.  They visit with us and the children at our home and then do a report, based on the visit and all the info from Ethiopia.  It isn't simple.  But it takes care of our children!  So, the Reece's Rainbow funds will go to pay for part of that.  I am so grateful!!!  LOL!  We will be buying diapers again!!!

Oh, my goodness, can you tell that we are getting close?  I bought a carseat for Kahsu today!  We found one quite a while ago for Azeb, but I found the perfect one for Kahsu, one that can grow with her!  We also found some adorable clothing on sale at Shopko - I have to admit, I am really getting to like my hubby working for a local retailer!  It was so fun to be blessed with some lovely clothing for the little girls also with our project today!  I have things going in the washer to freshen them and then will get them put away, well, sort of.  I haven't been able to find a dresser - really a chest of drawers, for the little girls.  I am searching for something that will work, but haven't found it yet.  It needs to be taller, but no more than 34" wide.  Well, working on it!  It is fun to be seeing things come together!  There is lots going on with the final renovations!  Big girls' room is coming along nicely, we have the primer and paint for the office area, and the primer for the big girls' room!!!!  Things are moving!!!

I am so antsy!!!  I am ready to get on that plane, though doing tons around here to get things in shape - isn't that always the process when you have a big family?  Or simply a family?  It seems to be a constant thing.  Organize, declutter, plan things out.  Life is a constantly moving process. 

Well all, I have scrubbed and cleaned and reorganized all day, at home and beyond!  I am done in and really have my head spinning with all that life has to offer.  I cannot express the simple blessings of family, home and hope!  And on that note, I am going to go spend some time with my most amazing husband - who accepts me faults and all!  I am so grateful!

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Sharing praises!!!!

We have been saying all along, that God is never late, but He is also rarely early.  Each step of this adoption, and basically all of our adoptions, have been accomplished just about at the last minute.  Which makes me crazy at times, but God has really been teaching me through it!  He knows where my biggest hang ups are, and where I need to work on things.  So, He has been hard at work!

Well, yesterday, we got our taxes done for this year, and found out that we will get enough of a refund to cover our travel expenses!  Whoo-hoo!  Great news.  Still needed the final funds to pay off the agency fees, but we have some to send to them.  And we keep working.

Well, I got home from that appointment to the mail.  And in there was a letter from the IRS. Yikes, all I could think was that this was another notification that they were reviewing it more, that there were more questions, more delay, all the usual things we have gotten for the last year (literally it was two days shy of a year since we filed those taxes!).

But, nope.

Miracle of all miracles, it was notification that they were paying our entire refund that we were owed!  The WHOLE thing.  I could barely breathe!

Now, granted, they are saying that it will deposit in six to eight weeks, and that would be AFTER I get back, but I am sure that somehow we can work it out, so right now we are just praying that they will deposit it EARLY!!!!!

So, once that drops into our account, the rest of the adoption is totally PAID for!!!!  Totally.  Even with some spending money for over there for things for the kids!  We are literally numb about it.

All the worry, all the struggle, all the tears.  And it is done.  I hesitate to say that, being somewhat superstitious, but it is TRUE!!!!

Now I can concentrate of finishing our remodeling, packing, organizing and all those other things!  What a weight has been lifted.

I just wanted to share!  And the Reece's Rainbow fund (that you see on the left) will go directly to our post adoption fees!!!!  Thank you everyone!

I just wanted to share, am about to get back to schooling with the kids!  I just wanted to share good news.  God is good, God is amazing.  I just can barely comprehend it!  So long, and now this!  Wow.


"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Laughing out loud!

Okay, I need to thank anyone who has contributed to our fund on Reece's Rainbow!  I could not believe when I looked at it tonight and it had gone up again!  You folks just spur us on with encouragement.

For so many months, we have worked hard and wondered how it was all going to come through.  We continued to do what we knew to do, and tried to do the best we could.  We felt that we were struggling with the IRS, as that was our plan. Well, in the midst of that, Steve (dear hubby) was traveling several hours a day, at least three days a week, for work.  Add that on to a regular work day, with a large active family at home, and it certainly was wearing.

He loved his work, loved his company, loved the people he worked with, but it was the drive that was part of what was killing us.  Not just the gas money, though that has certainly been part of it, but the time.  The time away.  And, with kids and all, there are times where you need to make that emergency call - I need you at home or we are headed to the emergency room.  Serious stuff.  And with hubby miles away, it was stressful.  Especially with two kids with type 1 diabetes.

Well, the drive wore and wore on him, until dear hubby, who loves to keep things the same (not like that happens much here) finally decided it was too much.  But needless to say, there is a lot that goes into a job change in our situation. Not just finding a job in this economy, but benefits are huge, and of course we at home care a great deal that he enjoys what he does the majority of the day.

I dearly love my husband and want him to be happy.  That means at work and at home, though we all know that this might not happen at all times.  It is real life.  But, I want him to enjoy what he does as he provides for our family.  And he has never complained.

After a few months of quietly looking, he was approached for what is now his new job.  We are only two weeks into it, but it sure seems like a match made in heaven.  He works 30 miles from our home (we live in the sticks so anything is a bit of a hike).  He works in the nearest large city to us, which is where our hospitals are, our doctors, my parents, the community theater we are part of, our church and many other things.  He is able to get more sleep, not leave before the crack of dawn for work, and generally get home at a very reasonable time, or help with things we need help with in town.  I know it has been only two weeks, but it is fabulous!

And tonight we signed up for our benefits - hee, that was hysterical!  Just the act of signing us all up, took a glass of wine to get through, what with everyone's social security numbers, birthdates, and making sure we didn't miss anyone!  It was so funny.

It is hard to explain.  We have been a family of ten.  As of today we have TEN children, but only eight of them are stateside right now, so it feels like we are still a family of ten, though we are actually a family of TWELVE.  I have to say, bless the folks who wrote the computer program that allowed us to sign up, because it didn't freak out at all as we added dependents!!!  LOL!  It was very funny.  We kept counting to make sure that everyone's names showed up, not only under medical, but then dental and vision and life and all of that.  We were going around in circles!

What else can you do but laugh?  Who would have ever guessed?  Who would have ever guessed that we would be facing this most interesting of challenges?  LOL!

Anyway, I just wanted to thank everyone for boosting our spirits and helping us get to our little girls.  We ARE going to get there!  I picked out board books for our little girls today (at the same time as buying new underwear for literally ALL of the kids - I don't want to know how they all wore out or outgrew at the same time!!!  Underwear times ten of us!  Yikes, that alone is a budget challenge!).  I have some outfits all picked out to take with us, and am packing donations to take for the orphanage!  We don't have final word on travel date as of yet, that will wait for the Embassy interview scheduled for the end of the month!

I am so excited!  The kids are excited!  Life is good!  God is good.  He certainly has this all planned out , though I don't quite see it all yet.  But I can see it coming together.  Thank you for all the help!  Literally, each dollar counts!  Thank you so much!  I will share more photos later.  But for now, the kids are sent to bed, and I am going to spend time with my husband.  Goodnight all, and God bless!



"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Movement???

I have a phone call hopefully today about the IRS situation with Congressman Reid Ribble.  With him directly.  He wants to talk to me.  I am just stunned.  I am so hopeful that maybe there will be some movement.  This return was how we had planned to pay for our girls' adoption all along, and here we are nearing the end, with no idea how it will come about.  I have no idea what the conversation will end up being about, but I am hopeful.  Even if it is just commiserating with me, it does mean a lot to me that he is listening and has read the emails I have had going, pleading for help.  For the most part we have been working with his office staff, but now I know that he is aware.  Interesting lessons in government for our kids - yes, these people work for us, can help us, that is why we vote as we do, so we put good people in a position to help.  Again, I don't know what this conversation will entail, but I am very at peace with knowing that our elected representative is listening to a little person like me, a mama pleading for justice so I can care for my kids.

And, on another note, I cannot express the encouragement of seeing the Reece's Rainbow button next to this blog ticking up.  Honestly, every little bit counts.  Every bit is a kiss from you, a kiss from God, a kiss for our babies.  It is hard to explain, because I know I get caught in the thought too - "I can't do much, it won't make a difference".  I always want to do it ALL.  But then I have forgotten that each little bit adds up.  And most importantly, every little bit gives us immense measures of hope and encouragement.  THAT is the priceless part.  I know it seems silly.  But we feel less alone in this struggle, hopeful and encouraged.  I hope that makes sense to you.  I cannot express the measure that it encourages us.  I cannot explain why we are so at peace with this. We know the amount we need seems insurmountable - particularly that it is needed in a month.  All I know to do is to keep doing what I can.  So I keep doing it.  God has a plan.  Maybe it is through people out there, maybe it is through the IRS finally getting us what is ours, maybe it is something else.  I don't know.  But, I know that God keeps telling me to prepare.  To be ready.

So, I will.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, all of you who are praying for us and walking this road with us.  Thank you to those who have donated - you have lifted our spirits and encouraged us to keep the fight.  I cannot wait to share these little ones with you (and to get our life back to a new normal!).

May God's blessings and encouragement rain down upon you!  I am praying for anyone who might read this!

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Ethiopia - here we come! And online auctions!

So, if you have been following my blog at all, you know that we are eagerly anticipating being able to bring our two daughters home to their family!  The final details to be wrapped up, are the final funds and travel expenses. So, we have several things of interest going on.

I am going to be posting items for auction or sale as fundraisers for this final hurdle!  We are down to needing just under $16000 all total.  It sounds like a lot, but there are many things in the hopper.  God has got this in His hands.  And we just keep doing our part and everything we can think of!  So, keep checking back, it will change just about daily!  And share with everyone you know!  LOL!

First things first.  I am going to list a handmade Ethiopian scarf, appears to have been woven on a loom.  A friend's daughter brought it back for us, to be used however it could help!  It is about six feet long and a foot wide, and absolutely gorgeous colors!!!!

What we are going to do is this:  If you are interested in this item, please post a bid in the "comments" section (and please figure that it will come to you priority mail and I will ask that you pay that - so $4.95 for shipping, so keep that in mind as you figure what you would be willing to spend on it - always something to keep in mind as you bid - we do it on eBay all the time!!!).  This auction will run for SEVEN days, so until Sunday night (9PM) February 12th.  Highest bidder at that time will win the item.  I will contact you to get address.  We do use PayPal, so that is a possible way to make payment or you can send it to me.  I will ship it out!  (And as we will be adding more items daily, if you are bidding on more than one thing, let me know and I will hold it until you find out if you won another - and we could then combine shipping!)

Sound good??

Okay, here is the handmade scarf from Ethiopia:  Six feet in length, one foot in width, light weight and just gorgeous!!!  What a great way to bless two little girls and the family anxiously awaiting them!!!  Help us bring them home!!!!!

So, all you have to do to bid is to put your bid in the comment section and check back to make sure you weren't outbid and see if you need to place a higher bid!  (By the way, if you live local, we can arrange to meet up rather than ship the item!)

Thanks so much for helping to love on Azeb and Kahsu!  I almost cannot believe it that in about a month we will be together again, and finally!  They will come HOME!  They will have a FAMILY!  Brothers and sisters and a mom and a dad who love them!    Just a few more hurdles!  Just a few!  I want to encourage you that every little bit helps.  As we have seen in the last five years, if lots of folks do just a little, a lot is accomplished!  Thanks!

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Hugs to you all!!!

We are doing lots here to get ready. Suddenly we have a timeline and it is soon!  The way I deal with waiting and the agony that is for me, is to get busy!  We are refinishing the little girls hardwood floor hopefully by the end of next week it will be done, and working on the renovations on the big girls room!  I have to admit, I had a blast with my three girls working on their room today.  We even got in some sewing time too!  It is a constant project to keep things organized and functional for so many of us, but we really are feeling like we are getting on top of it - we have some new dresser ideas for the boys, and maybe even for the girls, and lots of plans for revamping the kids' computer schoolroom area!  We are having fun, and it keeps me sane.  Tomorrow I will be posting some sale/order/fundraising ideas that we have going, ways we can be of service to others too! 

God is so good.  Hubby and I are having our date night tonight - playing cribbage, having a glass of wine and some special snacks.  Just set aside time for us after we send the kids to bed.  It is very special to us.  We are in our favorite place, near our favorite people and enjoying time with just the two of us, but at hand if someone needs something.  I can hear the three girls banging around upstairs - they forget their room is just above ours.  I think the cleaning and reorganizing bug might still be after them!  Hee, hee.  Ah, well, there are worse things to worry about.


Hugs to everyone.  If anyone has any suggestions - as we walk this road, please feel free to let me know!  We are building "laundry basket dressers", especially for our boys who are very hard on dressers.  After the last time I fixed a bottom of a drawer that was pushed out, we went looking for ideas - something that could stand up to boys and be easily fixed or replaced.  The stories I have gotten on how they have gotten broken are enough to fill a book!  LOL! Well, there are worse things! 


Love to everyone!!!


"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

SAT tutoring - a review

I have to warn you, this is a totally offbeat blog post, given what you have been reading from me in the last few days.  This has nothing to do with adoption, but has to do with children and education.

Sigh.  We are reaching the point of SAT/ACT prep for our oldest.  Now, as a homeschooling mom, there is a lot going on, and I am very focused on his entire education, rather than test prep.  I have to admit that I was pleased to be asked to take look at this website ( http://www.studypoint.com/sat-tutoring/ ) and comment on it.  I have purchased several of the test prep books and am working on him to be reviewing for it and preparing.  But it was very interesting to see this website.  Not only do they have tutoring in test prep for these important tests, but they also have it for other subjects and areas of academics.

Sadly, they currently don't have any tutors in Wisconsin, but they do appear to have a lot to offer if you are in their areas!  I will have to sign up for information so if and when they develop tutors in this area, I can consider it!!!  After all, I have nine more kids following this one!!!

So, check out  http://www.studypoint.com/sat-tutoring/  for more information and to find out about their services.  I think this is a great resource for the homeschooling as well as regular education students and their families!

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

And MORE good news!!!!

I have several items of good news!

On the home front, the stomach bug that hit the house Sunday night seems to have left.  Yay!!!  We had a rocky few days on the diabetes front - and that is putting it mildly.  Zeri and Kiley were both up Sunday night with vomiting - yeah, every mama's nightmare.  But, at least it was only two out of the eight!  Three of the other kids ended up with queasy tummies over the next two days, but that is all.  Zeri recovered after two days of just feeling punky without more icky stuff.  Kiley also was done with the vomiting, but then the virus went crazy on her body and sent her diabetes into a wild spiral.  We spent three days trying to get her sugars down from four and five hundred, to fight off ketones, and watching carefully for when to call it and go to the hospital.  She was wonderful and worked really hard to keep drinking fluids to stay hydrated (dehydration is a very high problem with high sugars and ketones as the body is trying to flush all that bad stuff out), and eating a bit here and there, so we could give her insulin to help.  We had to double her correction dose - the amount we give her for a high blood sugar, which is scary, because if she gets too much, it will drive her very low.  We stocked the house with fast sugars, around here known as rescue sugars so when she began to get better, if she was driven low, we could bring her up fast.  It is a very nervewracking balancing act.  It also means that we check her sugars every hour to two hours around the clock and address it at each check.  Hence, Mom and Dad don't get a ton of connected sleep.  I have to admit, that with Steve's job change this week, he has been able to get more sleep (he doesn't leave the house at 5:30 AM, but at 7:15 AM!!!) so he actually spelled me, which we haven't been able to do for a long time.  It helped a ton.  Well, Kiley turned the corner yesterday morning and we started to see normal blood sugar numbers!  It has continued and we were able to send her upstairs to sleep in her own bed last night - she sleeps on the couch when she is sick so she is just in the next room and we are closer.  So, that is one part of good news - we all made it!!!!

Steve's new job is going very well and he has been very welcomed and is very pleased with the whole thing.  We have him home more, and closer to home when he is working!  It is a huge adjustment to our budget that his gas needs have dropped DRAMATICALLY, in fact to about a third or so of what it used to be, which makes a huge difference.  So, we have Daddy more, he is getting more rest, is happy, and well, we are loving it!

We also got word this morning that the final step of getting through the Embassy process is in motion.  They do a birthparent interview for any children who have a living parent - the girls dad is alive but unable to care for them due to many things.  They have been in the orphanage for more than a year, since their mom's death.  But, this is the final step!  It is scheduled for February 27th!!!  IF all goes well, which it usually does but not always, it is possible we will be cleared to travel very shortly after, even possibly the next day!!!  I don't know yet if that means I should buy plane tickets or when, but will hear that soon from our agency.  They have really been fabulous about keeping me in the loop with what is going on.  Again, this is about a month sooner than we were told last week!!!!!!

Of course, we are still working on getting that tax refund, since that was how we planned to pay for this all.  We have been at it for more than a year, working with our Congressman and a tax advocate for more than a month.  We have been told that it is unlikely that we would have gotten it before the end of March date projected last week.  Now, we have just over four weeks!  I am so thrilled to think we can be with our girls soon, and still trying to figure out how God is going to make it happen.

ALSO, on my post yesterday, I said we needed $25000.  I made a mistake.  I did not realize that the numbers the agency gave us INCLUDED travel expenses (so I had added them on top to what they told me we needed)!!!

So, instead of needing $25,000 - we need just over $17,000!!!!!!!!!  A huge, huge change!!!!  My mistake!!!!  I am so happy.  It still seems huge and I am struggling with being very frustrated that we don't have the return we are due, that seemed so simple a year ago, and appears to be caught up in bureaucracy, is still not here, and would supply ALL our needs!  Grrrr.....  There is no way we could qualify for a loan.  We stretched everything we have to get to this point, knowing it will be poured back in.  So, sadly that isn't an option.  I can accept that.

We are filing our taxes for this year at the first available appointment, but even with as simply as that should go, we are unlikely to get that return in time for this rapid timeline!!!  I will not stress, I will not stress.  God is well aware of this and knew of it long before we did.

And our Reece's Rainbow fund has grown!  I did share our church's address yesterday, as they are accepting tax deductible donations on our behalf, as is another local charity - I have to get that contact information.  I am selling everything that isn't needed and some items from Ethiopia - you will see them here shortly and can purchase via PayPal!  I will get that set up.  Our paypal email is mommyturtle@tm.net.

And Rivers of Living Waters is allowing us to fundraise with them.  If you purchase something from their store, not only does some go towards our adoption fund and directly to our agency, but you also benefit the amazing programs they do in Ethiopia plus get a neat item!!!  Here is the info they posted:

Christy Oswald has just become our first Fundraising Partner at Rivers of Living Water for their adoption. She will earn 25% of all store merchandise including Mugs, T-shirts, Wristbands, African Fabric, and 10% of all gifts for orphans in Ethiopia, including donating Bibles, a Lamb, Clothing, Shoes, School Supplies, Medical Funds, a Water Well, planting a Church and more! go to www.rivers-of-living-water.org/store for more details.

I know that God has this all under control, that He knew of this timeline and all that went into it from the start.  I don't pretend to understand His reasons, when to me the most logical is to just let that tax return go so we can USE it!  I have to admit that part of me wants to just argue with Him about why He is letting it happen this way, when we really just desire to do it all totally on our own, and I have a sneaking suspicion that THIS is His reason, to teach us to rely on Him, that His plans are better than our own, that He can see the whole picture.  I generally am at peace with this, working hard not to allow anxiety to rule as I want to see this all laid out perfectly so I can just GO!  That does not seem to be God's plan.  A friend once told me that if I don't let her help me, then I am turning away the blessing SHE is to receive for what she is doing.  That stopped me in my tracks.  We get so close minded and independent, we just want to do it all ourselves, but maybe it isn't ABOUT us.  Maybe it is ABOUT someone else.  I just don't know.  I just know that I will keep walking.  I will keep preparing for this trip.  I will begin pulling out clothes for the little girls to wear home.  I will make sure my home is in order, because I am going to NEED it this way when we go through all that we will go through with the transition and changes that are coming down the pike.  

I will do what I know to do, prepare because I have faith that God is totally in control.  I am still doing everything I can do!  I am trying to get our taxes from this year through faster (trying to get an earlier appointment), pursing last year's taxes, doing sales, working on the weekends, and doing whatever I can think of!  But ultimately, this is up to God.  I cannot figure what He is up to.  He is God.  I am just me, and He gave me a job to do!

So, we have lots of good news, forward progress and things keep moving.  I am thrilled, terrified, excited, ecstatic, over the moon, all of that.  The kids are very excited!  It is neat for them to see the process we go through and our joy and excitement and know that we did the same when THEY came home.  It is a good message for them.  YOU were prepared for this way, YOU were anticipated with great joy, YOU were loved intensely before we ever met you, YOU matter.  They not only see us do it, but they also feel it.  It is a healing thing for them too.  God is amazing.  

Here is our church address again:

Celebration Church
3475 Humboldt Rd
Green Bay, WI 54311

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Wow!!! Go GOD!!!!

I have way, way good news!

Our file was submitted to the Embassy last week Wednesday.  There is a very slow timeline that generally takes place.  We were told to expect to travel in seven to eight weeks.

Today I got an email - we will most likely travel the end of THIS MONTH to bring Azeb and Kahsu home!!!! I am beyond thrilled and excited.  To hold their little hands again, to look at their faces - to tell them - YOU have a MOMMY and a DADDY who love you, a FAMILY who will forever be here for you.  I know the adjustments and transitions and all the hard work that goes into their coming home.  I know it will be different from our homecoming of our older kids.  These are little children, whose whole world is about to change!  For good, but it still is scary!  There are many losses, of familiar things, but many gains.

God is paving the way!

Now, if I could also ask for intense prayers.  This is the part that isn't so fun.  We had planned on paying for this adoption through our refund from last year - with the adoption tax credit.  Well, we are still waiting on it, and our Congressman is working with the taxpayer advocacy on our behalf.  It isn't here.  It likely wouldn't have been here for the expected time of travel and it is almost impossible for it to be here before we are now to travel at the end of the month.

I hate money stuff.  I in my head cannot equate a child's life with finances.  There is no line there.  Honestly.  I get very frustrated and scared and stressed, and my mama heart just cries out for my kids.  I feel like I am beating my head against the wall.

BUT, we serve a huge God.  A HUGE God.  If He wants to provide a different way, that is up to Him.  My mama's heart is begging that He provide it so we can travel as soon as we are told we can.  The heartbreak to me would be them staying one more day there because of money.  One more day away from a warm home full of love and laughter and many warm hearts.

So, if anyone has any suggestions, or wishes to help, please feel free to do so.  I tend to be a proud person.  God is working with me on that through all this.  So, I am letting folks know where things are, and anything you feel God calls you to do, please feel free.  I am selling everything from the house that I can lay my hands on -things we don't need or can do without.  I will be having giveaways and things here on my site, changing daily, so please check back.

I don't know why I am telling you this, but I think I need to.  Our church has been accepting tax deductible donations for our adoption so if you wanted to contribute, here is their address:
Celebration Church

3475 Humboldt Rd
Green Bay, WI 54311

I am going to break my cardinal rule and post a photo of our girls so you can look into their joyful faces too!  I generally wait until they are home, even though legally we can once they are our children in the eyes of the law.  I am just superstitious.

But I want you to meet them!

So, please check back frequently.

We need about $25000 in 29 days - as my son Ben realized!  By the way, you should have seen the kids faces when I told them how soon we could go!  Excited and thrilled -what a way to warm a mama's heart in the morning.  Their total joy that their sisters would come home.  God is good.

So, please share!  Please share!  Please suggest!  We still have puzzle pieces left for our fundraiser for that, about 600.  We were asking for a $2 donation per piece, and your name is put on the back so when it is framed it can always be seen how many pieces of the puzzle there were and how many people cared for these little lives!!!

Gotta run, but will update soon!
Christy


"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11