Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Friday, October 24, 2008

Well Said

This short video articulates much better than my attempt to describe my feelings on the life issue:

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

two weeks

i've always heard you should avoid talking about religion and politics with people so if you are one who agrees with that, then you may want to stop reading because you are likely to be offended. Sorry about that.

But in two weeks our country will face a milestone. And it truly does come down to one issue: life. Because if a person values life, then the rest of his policies, ideals, visions, and plans become more trustworthy. If a person values life - whether an unborn baby's or one who is mentally or physically challenged or even one who has lived decades and has gained more knowledge and wisdom and experience than most but may have trouble expressing himself due to the body's failings and limitations... This person will make his choices for the good of human life - ALL human life.

I don't agree with either candidate 100% but I know which one is more trustworthy.

There are some really good things to read that you may not have heard before at our friend's page: www.gloriousruin.wordpress.com

Friday, October 17, 2008

Adoption T Shirts for sale

Great News!

My friend Melissa is willing to make some more adoption t-shirts (see previous post).

She is charging $20 per shirt and you can email her at melissa.m.milliken@gmail.com to let her know what you'd like yours to say, what size shirt, etc. and she will take it from there!

I wore mine to our MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting this week and had some great conversations about adoption (after everyone first tried to subtly glance down at my stomach). :)

Monday, October 13, 2008

God provides!

Yeah - we're now up to #12! Of course until our I800 (immmigration paperwork) is approved we can not be matched with a child so hopefully that will fall into place soon!

On another note, my friend Melissa blessed me in a huge way today. She brought over the sweetest gifts: a cute soft cuddly blanket for baby boy and an awesome adoption t shirt that she made for me! I love it!!! Such great timing and provision after my pity party post the other day about not being pregnant but still 'expecting' blah blah blah.



I can't wait to wear it out and count how many times I'm asked "When are you due?" :) It will be great opportunity to talk about international adoption, India, God's heart for the nations and all other sorts of fun topics!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

October Fun

We went to a great Pumpkin Patch this morning and picked out 3 pumpkins (one for Lucy, one for Nate, one for kiddo #3). It was a lot of fun!

Lucy



Nate



My favorite people ever:



He was explaining something very seriously here in jibberish, of course!



In the corn maze: Lucy led us right through with no wrong turns!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Moving along

Yeah! We're up another notch on our waiting list! Every move makes it more real and more exciting! It's been great to see babes matched with their families recently - what a blessing to witness God's divine intervention, working on both sides of the world to intertwine lives that otherwise would never have crossed paths.

I also have been told that the majority of the families in front of us are waiting to be blessed with the addition of a little girl so maybe that will mean a shorter wait for us since we are hoping to add another boy to our family! All in His timing, of course, but Nate is getting "big" fast and my hands & arms are itching for a new little one to snuggle!

Many of my friends are newly pregnant -- I will never understand how pregnancy seems to sweep across like an epidemic :) -- and it has been interesting and humbling for me to watch as they are showered daily with questions of "How are you feeling? Will you find out what you're having?" and all the other fun & exciting thoughts that go along with a pregnancy. I feel blessed that I experienced the joy of that attention & time period two times for myself.

But now being "paper pregnant", I catch myself feeling sorry for myself because I don't have the baby bump or the excuse to buy new maternity clothes or to radiate that pregnancy glow. My dearest friends who are joining us on this journey through prayer & support encourage me in a similar way "How is the waiting? Have you thought any more about names?" for which I am so grateful. And the Lord has reminded me gently and is using my current state of mind to teach me a familiar lesson - it is not about me! We are not adopting for us; we are adopting in obedience to His Word and in hopes of glorifying Him through that obedience. Of course the blessings that will abound from this one act will be plentiful someday (both here and in heaven) and I look forward to those. In the meantime, I will wake up each day and ask again for God to put me aside and to honor Him and others first.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Are you kidding me?

Cubs Postseason Skid Reaches Nine

Tell me why do I even allow myself to hope at all?

This is killin' me, smalls.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Funnies

Lucy came home from school the other day telling me all about her science class.

She said, "I know what these bones are called!" pointing to her ribs.

I asked her "What are they called?"

Her answer: "Strips!"

Also, Mark was hitting a ball off his wrist and she said, "You're really good at hitting that ball off your nickel!"

So maybe she won't be pre-med someday...:)