Life keeps moving!!!!

I don't know if I have much to share.  We are on the rollercoaster of the adoption world.

We are being presented to another family who is expecting a Down Syndrome little girl and is not able to parent her.  I am trying so hard not to get too excited.  We have been presented several times now, but if this comes together, the baby is expected late December/early January.  The agency that contacted us was thrilled with us as a prospective family for this child, and we are able to agree to what the birth family would like - which is to meet us/talk to us prior to the birth, and to have an open adoption.  I know that the agency is pleased, but what the birth family might think is unknown.

I am trying not to get too focused or think too much, but we so hope this might be our daughter.  Okay, Steve, being a guy isn't totally focused on this - generally he waits to commit himself emotionally until things are a go.  Probably a good thing, given the ups and downs and peaks and valleys.  I am not so good at that.

I am the one who could not keep any pregnancy a secret or any exciting event.  I try not to think too much about possibilities, but I am also the one who is "keeper of the schedule" such that it is.  If we are traveling several states away, or I and/or Steve are going to be gone, things must be arranged.  I am one of those people who likes to have things somewhat sorted out so I have a plan on how I might get it all managed.

So, we are trying to keep in mind that we are open at any time for a huge change in our lives.  We have decided to directly finish all our fundraising/funds collecting as soon as possible, in order to be ready any time we are needed.  Thankfully, once we turned it over to God, he has shown his hand.  Our prayers have always been that he would make his will very clear.  We prayed, responded to the call we got, agreed to be presented, and have asked God to show up if it is his will.  Well, ladies from a bible study I have been part of had an envelope for me, with funds to seed our progress in an adoption!  And they have let others know of the goal.  And a lady I have never met responded yet again.  I sent a total sum to our agency, that totaled what I had gotten in the envelope, added in a five dollar refund check, and in faith sent another $20.  This is one of those weeks that it is a reach.  But I sent it. And then the lady I have never met sent exactly what we needed to cover the extra.  I am stepping out in faith again and sending that total amount plus some tomorrow.  We are nickel and dime-ing it, but we are making forward progress.  It is a tiny drop in the bucket of what we could need by the end of December, but it is forward progress.  God has made his will very clear and direct.  Literally day to day.

So, we are open to what might happen.  If this one does not go through, we will have assembled funds and continue to assemble funds so we will have the amount in total as soon as possible, whenever God decides.

You will notice a button on the left sidebar that is labeled "want to help?".  Any funds donated go directly to a special needs adoption.  Not to budget, not to toys, not to clothing, directly to an adoption fund.  If for some reason we are unable to adopt, all funds will be donated to a family who is in process to adopt.

On that note, we are seeing other families being called to adopt and are so blessed to be walking with them on this road.  It is very daunting for most, not only to consider parenting children they have never met, but to look at the funding needed.  Most families don't look at having that amount just hanging around.  So, the reality is that somehow, this money must be located or earned or whatever.  We are teaming up with families not only to lend our knowledge and experience, but to tangibly band together to help fund adoptions.  My dream is that we could make a system where we could fund a homestudy for a family, and when their child is home and they get their adoption tax credit the next tax year, that they would then put the money back so another homestudy could be funded for another family.  Once a homestudy is done, then the family can apply for grants and loans and what not.  But sometimes getting the homestudy done can seem like the first big stumbling block.  We shall see where this goes.  Right now we are hoping to work with several families to help them get going on the financial and paperwork end.  We shall see where God takes this!

I am also going to do a post shortly about adoptive parents and how we feel about our children and God's will.  It is a bit complex and I don't have a simple answer, so I hope you check back so I can explain more fully!  It has been on my mind a lot lately, and I hope I can put it in a way that makes sense.

There will be more fun posts, but thought I would let you in on the rollercoaster.  Winter is coming and we have more that we need to get done, but I don't know if that ever changes!  We still are hoping to get kittens to new homes (hint, hint), but things are settled down - or at least will be once our plays are done!

Kiley and I am in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and that opens this Thursday and runs through Sunday.  We have seven performances and so are very tied up with that.  Kiley makes an amazing Imogene and I cannot wait to hear what folks think about it.  (I am just one of the telephone ladies, the same one I was last year, but am having fun with it, and I think doing better.)

Alex and Zeri both have smaller parts in A Christmas Carol, that runs the first two weekends of December.  And Faith, Solomon and Tsion have parts in the church Christmas play.

(Hubby looks over and says "Good gracious, quite a long post."  But I never seem to do these in short blurbs.  Oh, well, I guess I ramble on!)
Goodnight!
"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

God certainly knows what he is doing!

I shared at the end of my last post how hard it is to be in the position to wait to be needed.  You know how sometimes you just beg God for a view from above to "get it"?  Well, today I got a bit of a view.

We had been presented to a birth family a while back - we have been presented to at least three that we know of in the last four months - and there were only two families presented.  It seemed like a good chance, right?  Well, I follow lots of blogs, and I recognized when I read one of the blogs, that they were obviously the other family and had been selected by the birth family (we knew the place, baby's sex, due date, diagnosis, etc).  I went through a bit of time trying so hard to not be jealous of them, praying that God would grant me the spirit of peace about it, that there were reasons, and this child was not the one who needed us.  But it was hard.  At times my arms ache more than I think I can tolerate, the helpless feeling totally overwhelms me and I just want to DO SOMETHING!!!!  But, I was able to follow their journey and see photos of the baby.  

Well, today I was checking in on their blog.  This baby is in the hospital several states from here, has been from birth and it looks like he will be for at least another month.  The parents are traveling back and forth, switching off with their crew at home and their son in the NICU.  Oh, my!  And we are even farther away!!!  We would do exactly the same thing, but the stress!!!  The needs of our kids, the financial stress of the travel and all, the entire situation.  

I literally felt like God was saying "This would be so very difficult on your family, this would be too much.  This child and situation is not for you.  I have a better plan that is better for all ten in your family."  The peace I got was finally the peace I had begged for.  This was not our plan or our walk.  The weight off my shoulders, the feelings of envy were totally gone.  I could see the big picture.  We were not chosen for God's good and divine reason, his plans for the best for us.  Not that we could not find a way to do what needed to be done, but it was not our walk (and I was so relieved).  I have prayed for that family, but now I pray for them with an entirely new outlook and heart.  I don't know how they do it.  I don't know how we could possibly do it.  We couldn't move all of us there, we have the farm, the kids need me here, on and on.  I know that God could create a way.  I KNOW that he would if he called us to it, but today, I am so grateful that he didn't.

I still have arms that ache and an empty crib, but I know that my dearest Lord knows what is best for us, for all of us, and won't let us rush into something that would be harmful or not his plan for our growth.  I am at peace with that. 

And still waiting for the phone to ring with "the CALL", but I am trusting that God has his plan for our family.  

So, we are redecorating (in a very simple and functional way), enjoying our youngest daughter's 11th birthday today - now we officially have four 11 year olds! - and trying to continue our fundraising, decluttering, visiting resale shops (to drop things off), and enjoying life.  We have had some little visitors and really learned a lot and solidified what we believe in about child rearing, and have enjoyed it.  I hope we have been a blessing to the little visitors and we sure were blessed.
"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

Rainy, lovely fall day!!!!

Today has been one of those inside days on the farm.  We actually haven't had too many of them, and after the off kilter way our week went, it was welcome.

Wednesday night, Steve's car died.  Or rather the repairs needed are too costly for the age and mileage of the vehicle, at least for the amount of driving he does for work.  The best option is likely a used, rebuilt engine to replace the one in there.  Ugh. And he puts on about 1000 miles a week.  Not a reliable option for the breadwinner in our family.

We worked really hard to stay calm, have faith and see what God allowed to pan out.

Easier said than done, obviously.

He was able to work from home for Thursday and Friday, which was a huge blessing as Friday was Ben's birthday.  We ended up looking at used cars at a dealership - hooked up by an adoptive dad who works there to a salesman who is himself adopted!  It is the same place we bought Steve's last car, which we definitely got our money's worth from.  And we had very few problems, nothing beyond what you might expect given the amount of work the car did!  So, it seemed reasonable to go back.  

We hate the thought of a car payment, but we know that it will be for a very limited time, likely just until March.  I would say that the only benefit we will see from the health care bill is the part about the adoption tax credit.  But, to know that we will only make a couple payments and then pay off the car really makes the thought much easier to handle.  

So, we now glance out in to our driveway and think that someone is here, until we realize that it is Steve's new car!  A 2009 Nissan Versa.  Nice little car, very low miles, great gas mileage, and new enough that we can rest easy knowing that he is not likely to have troubles getting to and from his job, which is very important to our family!

The kids are thrilled, love the "cool" car that Dad now drives.  I just refuse to think about how much it cost!  Ugh.  But it is priceless for Steve to get to work!  

So, yesterday, prior to picking up the "new" car, I took the kids to a ceramics shop.  We have been meaning to go for ages, the kids want to learn how and then have another item to show for 4H at the county fair.  But we have never gotten around to it, sadly.  So, I decided to make an appointment, put it on the calendar and get us there this year.  We need some new things to do during cold weather when we get cooped up a bit more.  

Anyway, we make up a class ourselves, so I called and explained that we wanted to learn it from the ground up, so we really knew all about the process and how things are done.  Not to mention that on freecycle last year we acquired ceramic molds (still am not sure how we can use those, but I intend to learn!) and some greenware for ceramics!  

Well, we had a blast!  The very nice lady there took us around, explained that we should select something simpler to start with, but she would help us find the right pieces as well as something we liked.  She showed us the difference between greenware and bisque, and then helped us choose pieces that weren't too difficult for our experience.  Then once all of us (eight kids and me) had picked a piece, she got out the tools and showed us how to clean the seams off, and get it well done.  We really had fun.  Now our items are being fired, and on Monday we get to go back and start the glazing processes.  We haven't learned too much about that yet, I know that there are many, many options.  Everyone is very excited to get that part going!  Faith has told me about ten times that she is so excited for Monday!

Well, with the rain, we pulled out the greenware that we had gotten from freecycle and I and various of the kids throughout the day have worked on that.  Our piano bench is still a bit dusty from our work, but will be all wiped down soon.  We completed a complete nativity set, plus extra pieces - a bunch of sheep - the kids thought a full herd was appropriate.  There was even an R2 D2, a couple cute mice, a couple smurfs (hee, hee!), a vase and a bunch of balls for Christmas ornaments.  Now we have an entire box carefully boxed up to come with us on Monday, where it will get fired so we can do the glazing another time.  The kids already have other items that they saw that they want to do, so it appears we have a new hobby going at our house!

It is nostalgic to me for several reasons.  My grandmother did lots of ceramics when I was growing up and I have pieces throughout my house that she did for me over the years.  She passed away more than a year ago, and I miss her.  I bet she is just giggling at watching her granddaughter and her great-grandkids enjoying the same hobby she loved for so long.  And I had done a little when I was in middle school (a billion years ago) and really loved.  So, it means a bit more to me, maybe.

And to follow up on our last post, thank you everyone who ordered for our fundraiser!  We raised $225 towards our fees at Bethany Christian Services for another adoption.  I love the pendants so much, and friends have showed me some that they bought and they are so happy with them!  That is such a great thing - a win for everyone all around.  

With the colder weather (and sitting through more play practices) I am working on more knitting projects - some for Christmas if I can get them figured out, and finishing up the granny square afghan that I started when we were expecting our little guy last spring.  I still cannot take down the crib we put up for him, and still have his photo in the crib in a really nice frame that says "family".  Some days it seems surreal, and some days it just is something that has happened.  I find myself wondering what he might be doing now had he lived.  He would have been about seven months old now.  I just cannot imagine.

And now it is just hard to wait to be needed again.  But, I have decided to finish up the blanket, and see what God wants to do with it.  If it will wrap around a baby of ours, or if it will wrap around some other baby.  I am sure that God will make it clear.  
"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

Today is the DAY!!!!

Today is our Etsy fundraiser for our special needs adoption!!!

What we are finding is that we have to have the entire funds put away for when the call comes, as often these babies are placed at birth when it is found that they have special needs.  We got an email today about a baby born earlier this week, but would need to be on a plane TODAY!!!  Um, yep, this isn't our baby. 

So, our funds go to first our adoption agency, when their bill is done, then it goes into a fund at the bank to wait for THE CALL so we can be ready on literally a moment's notice. 

Oswald Adoption Fundraiser

You MUST note in the notes section at the checkout that this is for the Oswald Adoption, and it MUST be a purchase of a necklace (or more than one????).  We receive $5 for each necklace sold today only.  Please consider shopping for Christmas.  Her prices on necklaces are $10.75, so they are really affordable and are just beautiful!  Please feel free to pass this on to anyone who may be interested in this!  Whether for shopping or adoption or whatever!!!!

Thanks so much, praying for provision!
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

A farming post....

Did you ever run into one of those days where you really wanted to do more than you were able to?

This time I don't mean adoption - we are still working on that, in fact, I have another Etsy fundraiser sale going on Friday, I will post a link if you want to do your Christmas shopping!  Sara's Treasure Box sells the most beautiful jewelry and it is really inexpensive.  We benefit from sales of necklaces on Friday, October 15th, if Oswald Adoption Fundraiser is listed in the notes section.  Her necklaces generally run $10.75 and $5 will go towards our special needs adoption!  So, it is really affordable, I have ordered several (for other people's adoption fundraisers) that I have stashed away for Christmas presents!  Here is the address: 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sarahstreasurebox

So, go shopping on Friday, October 15th and mention the Oswald family!  You will love Sarah's stuff, and support her efforts to help special needs children get to loving homes!

Anyway, today I have two sick kiddos, so we are at home.  I am not sure if I will be able to get the other kids to church or not, given hubby is working far away and has a late meeting.  Oh, well.  God must have known that we needed a day of gathering ourselves.

Of course that means that Kiley (one of the sick ones) is snuggled down in my bed, surfing craigslist. 

Sigh.

Given the economy, there are so many horses for sale, many at what is typically considered fabulous prices (if not free or nearly so!).  And, in the last two months we have bought two that way (oh, yeah, kids joined together to save two yearling arab fillies that needed a new home), and then were involved in a huge rescue effort to get five abused animals out of a bad situation.  So, there are three donkeys, a mule and some sort of small draft gelding added to our herd - to bring it to a grand total of : SEVENTEEN!!!!!!

Yeah, seventeen.

More than we planned, more than certainly we need, but they needed a place. 

We are working on training and gentling them and it is rewarding for everyone. 

So, if we were independently wealthy, had a big barn and an unending supply of hay, we could be really busy!  All the "green" horses are up for sale now as people tighten their belts.  I totally get it, you have to face priorities.  If the market ever turns around, whoever has gotten these animals trained to good saddle horses could make a mint (that always appeals to my husband's thoughts).  But, we aren't.  Thank goodness!!!!

So, we are out loving on animals and teaching them that we are trustworthy!  To watch an animal that large gentle and begin to trust you reminds you of how important trust is, how easily it is lost, and how hard it is to win back.  In human relationships that is just as important.  If we can trust someone, we can do anything. 

Kiley's now three year old mule Polly is a good example of that.  Polly came to us as a six month old filly.  She was skittish at first, but then became just like a large puppy dog, and grew and grew.  She is now fifteen hands high, and built big - her daddy was a Mammoth Jack, her mama a Haflinger mare.  So, Polly is a big girl as you would expect.  But she thinks she is a big snuggly thing.  Kiley has gotten her trust so completely that in one day she was able to introduce her to a saddle blanket, a saddle, a girth and stirrups, and get her all saddled up with the girth tightened with nary a flick of her huge ears.  And then the next day, she put a bridle on her for the first time!  Complete with a bit!  And went on to mount and take a few steps on this huge animal that had never carried anything on her back!  That is trust.  And it was rewarded and not disappointed. 

That is the way it should work in all areas, shouldn't it.

Which does make it a little odd when we butcher our chickens.  Hmmmm....  

But we are really humane about it anyway. 

Okay, so I am still in a bit of a quandry about that one, but they are really there for food, right?

Okay, so that is my struggle as a city-girl turned farmer.....  LOL.  I think.

But, boy, they taste really good, and they enjoy their free ranging lives while they live it!  Doing what chickens are meant to do - chasing bugs, each other, eating, enjoying dust baths and sunshine. 

So, now I have rationalized myself back into it.  Plus the practicalities of our health and my children's always hungry bellies!  LOL! 

Isn't life funny?

"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

I hate cancer!

Today, the world lost a great man of faith - Clint Hungerford.  Most people in the world will never know his name, but I remember him.  I haven't seen him since I was 13 - and I am WAY older than that now.  But he lived out his life in faith, raised his family as best he could, and left memories in my mind of a steadfast faith.

I know that my Dad met him at the gates of heaven today to welcome him home.  Those two were such great friends, raising kids at the same time, in the same church, helping to build onto it - that is the kind of memories I have from before my sixth year of life.  We moved away but never lost touch, and I saw Clint again after my dad's death.  And our families have kept in touch one way or the other since.

So, here is my rant!  Cancer stinks - the lung cancer (and no, he didn't smoke) may not have taken him, but the toll on him from the treatment did.  Another family is grieving, a wonderful man taken from this world too soon.  But, we all have hope - and the knowledge that we do not grieve in vain - we will see our loved ones again.  We can be thankful and secure that Clint (as my dad) were steadfast in their salvation in Christ, whatever their human failings.  For in Christ, we can rest secure in our hope and our love.  Christ loves us, no matter our flaws, and though we try to be perfect, Christ loves us as the striving people we are.  I am so very far from perfect, but I know that Christ accepts me as I am, and for him, I will forever strive to do better.  Thank you Lord, for welcoming home a dear friend today.  I am rejoicing that his pain is over, that his body is healed, healthy and disease and pain free.  I am rejoicing that he is finally where he was created to be, home with God.  I am grief stricken for his family who now is going to live without this wonderful man.  God will hold them up, and we will keep praying for them. 

So, for all the small heroes out there - know that you are not forgotten - you may think your life is normal and small, but it has far reaching consequences, including a person you knew as a child, who still remembers you as a great man of faith. 

Clint, I want to tell you that your life showed Christ's love.  That I saw it, even as a child, in the little things you did.  I remember, and you might think that I might not. 

The Hungerford family (and all the married names of Clint's daughters - I don't know them all) our prayers are with you, I am shedding tears with you, nothing compared to the tears you are shedding.  You will be in our prayers and thoughts for quite some time.  You stood alongside our family when my dad died and have always been there for us.  We can and do understand what you are going through.  Cancer is a terrible thing - it took first my dad and now Clint.  But both are home in heaven with our Lord - there is no greater joy.  We will be praying for you all!  Hugs and love,
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

Storefront open!!!!!!!

http://www.amazon.com/shops/AHWYV3O7YI3RA

This is my Amazon storefront and it is open now!!!! 

We are getting pretty aggressive about our store as we are fundraising/working to raise fees to adopt a special needs infant from the US.  There is a situation we are working on now, and honestly, the issue is funds rather than anything else.  Literally, every other thing is in place! 

So, if you are interested in books, please check out our storefront and order anything that interests you!!!  I try to keep our prices reasonable and generally they are lower than all the other prices out there!  (We are all book addicts so we have a huge inventory and are looking to find books new homes as well!!!!)

I will share more as this journey progresses, but at this point, if God wills, we could be traveling to another, warmer state near the Christmas holidays to bring home our baby girl, if God puts it all in place.  All I can do is my part, which is taking things a step at a time! 

If you have any other suggestions for fundraising, please let me know and I will gladly pursue them!

On a different note, life is good!!!!  We actually are enjoying the fall weather and have been so blessed with weather and fun!  I am so grateful to be working from home, my kids are so wonderful and we have so much learning going on!!!  And renovations to our classroom and home!!!  Whoo-hoo!  Thank goodness it is all things that we can do ourselves!  Everyone is learning new skills and the work times are filled with laughter and lots of neat conversation!

"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