tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65000567896396706122024-02-07T04:35:59.742-08:00My Cup Overfloweth"You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows" Psalm 23:5bAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.comBlogger479125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-42790030447166711662014-03-20T15:08:00.001-07:002014-03-20T15:08:20.042-07:00Far too long......Ohhhhhh....how I have missed blogging and my bloggy friends!!! Life....facebook..........life......have all kept me away. :)<br />
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I'm working on an update...can't wait to share what the Lord has been doing with our little family!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-32579264446798446352013-04-20T09:55:00.001-07:002013-04-20T10:00:06.062-07:00Babywearing...This is how we roll and YES...<br />
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I have my hands...<br />
<br />
Gloriously, wonderfully, beautifully, gratefully...<br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">FULL!!!!!!!!!!</b><br /><i>(I always have a good giggle when people say 'you have your hands full'...yes...yes, I do ;)</i><br />
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Some thoughts I posted on <a href="http://mycupoverfloweth.blogspot.com/2012/07/baby-wearing-to-hold-or-not-to-hold.html"><i>babywearing</i></a> a while back...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-74574188216175026922013-04-11T23:34:00.001-07:002013-04-11T23:58:29.224-07:00Her Coming Home Outfit...Beauty from ashesToday I packed your clothes...<br />
I was overwhelmed with emotions...<br />
Lots of tears...<br />
I miss you...<br />
<br />
But through the tears came joy...<br />
Do you know that you are forever my joyous melody?<br />
You see my little love, by God's divine appointment...<br />
I met a woman who's friend's daughter was pregnant with a baby girl...<br />
She is unable to parent her sweet babe...<br />
I was asked if we would consider adopting her...<br />
BUT we knew that God's plans for this little girl were greater than your daddy and I!<br />
<br />
God's plan was for our dear friends to adopt her....<br />
Friends who had been trying to bring their baby girl home from Russia when the government closed the doors of international adoption to the USA.<br />
Friends who longed to have their Ellie home safe in their arms...<br />
But God has different plans for them right now...<br />
Plans to continue to wait & fight for their Ellie BUT...<br />
While they wait...<br />
Glorious plans for them to adopt THIS sweet baby girl have begun to unfolded...<br />
<br />
My Zemirah girl...<br />
This little baby girl is a miracle....<br />
She is a precious gift...<br />
due to be born any day now...<br />
God brought her to us through your baby brother, Simeon, during one of his hospital stays...<br />
<br />
It is impossible to begun to understand all that God has planned...<br />
but one thing I know for sure...<br />
The one thing I cling to...<br />
<b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">His</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> purpose. Romans 8:28</span></i></b><br />
Without you precious girl....<br />
Your baby brother would not be here...<br />
And this sweet girl would not been united with her forever family...<br />
<br />
God's ways are higher than ours...<br />
I have peace in knowing that during our grief...<br />
God has caused some beautiful good to come...<br />
Oh the beauty I so longed and desperately begged to see...<br />
The beauty in your death is slowly unfolding...<br />
<br />
So today my beautiful girl...<br />
I packed up your coming home outfit...<br />
And tearfully gave it to a mama who is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her miracle girl...<br />
A miracle girl who in some crazy way...<br />
found her forever family because of you.<br />
<br />
I love you...<br />
I ache for you to be in my arms...<br />
I miss you ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-19115386817580189522013-04-11T11:32:00.000-07:002013-04-11T23:39:41.354-07:00Update...finally :)Where oh where have we been??<br />
<br />
In the hospital...<br />
<br />
5 times...<br />
<br />
totaling almost 5 weeks...<br />
<br />
over a 13 week period...<br />
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<b><i>all for this incredible, glorious, miraculous gift...our sweet son!</i></b><br />
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You see....during the first quiet moments we had alone with him, we knew something wasn't quite right. His breathing didn't seem to be normal. In fact, when he was sleeping or sitting in certain positions, he would literally <b>stop </b>breathing. <br />
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After many tests...<br />
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several hospital stays...<br />
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It was confirmed that our precious boy was indeed having many episodes where he was <i>not </i>breathing. We are talking like 100+ times an hour when he was sleeping, he would stop breathing. When giving oxygen while sleeping the # improved but it was still extremely dangerous...20+ times an hour. Thankfully the Lord had us at the right hospital under the best care.<br />
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We were faced with a difficult decision...well...it was difficult at the time but now that we are on the other side, we know it was absolutely necessary to protect his life.<br />
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On Feb. 16, little man had surgery...<br />
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Yep...he had tracheostomy surgery. His official diagnosis...severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea. He has very tiny airways and add some of the complications that come with Down Syndrome....hypotonia, low skull, big tongue...well...they add up to a completely blocked airway. He is doing great...breathing beautifully...breathing safely!<br />
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I think the most difficult part for us initially was the lose of his voice. Because of the trach, we can no longer hear his beautiful cries...his precious coo's...he recently started giggling but there is no sound. Seems silly to have to grieve that but we did. BUT my baby boy is ALIVE!!!! <b>God has protected his little life!!!</b><br />
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I tell you...God has incredible plans in store for little mister. His precious 4 month old life has touched thousands of people worldwide....has brought nurses to tears...has caused other families to consider adopting a child with down syndrome...has led people to the Lord, including his Chinese mama...YES...YOU READ THAT RIGHT. Because of Simeon...because of who he is...because of how the Lord moved miraculously....his beautiful, brave, amazing birthmama accepted Christ as her personal Savior. The entire story of her salvation is precious...miraculous...I'm talking treading-on-holy ground. Some day, with her permission, I will share it but know this......because of <i>her choice to give her son life....because of her & her family's choice to place him for adoption....</i><i style="font-weight: bold;">she found Jesus!!!!!!</i><br />
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Not only have we been given the gift of a beautiful son....we have been given the gift of family....we have also been given the gift of a big "sister" :) You see...Simeon's older bio-sister is living near us while she attends college here. We all absolutely adore her and LOVE that she is a part of our lives!<br />
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It is virtually impossible to put into words how much we love our sweet baby. He has brought us JOY....glorious JOY....ohhhh....there are no words...he is absolutely <i>AMAZING</i>!!!!! We simply can't imagine our lives without him!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-30623791425478291752013-03-21T18:21:00.002-07:002013-03-21T18:21:32.850-07:00Update....soon...My precious friends...I am LONG overdue in updating our blog.<br />
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Our house is quite busy...I promise to update soon. Simeon is doing great...we have been very busy with his medical care including several hospital visits that have totaled over 4 weeks :) I promise to update in the next couple of days. Love each of you!!<br />
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<i>For now I will leave you with this ;)</i></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-2100020836606552892013-01-16T08:36:00.001-08:002013-01-16T08:36:25.341-08:00He's Home!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I know I've been a slacker on updating my blog BUT I've been a little busy loving on our sweet boy!!!<br /><br />Our precious Simeon Mason came home to us on Friday. Words can not even begin to describe how much we love this little guy! What a glorious, miraculous gift.</div>
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So much to share...at a later time...just know that God is moving in mighty, mighty ways!!!</div>
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Introducing our sweet Simeon Mason Richards!</div>
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<i>Please continue to pray for Simeon's precious birthfamily. Their hearts are grieving. They made the decision to place Simeon out of the deepest love for him. We are honored that they chose us to be his parents...we have the greatest respect for them! We love them deeply!!!</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-9487117034107727352013-01-04T19:51:00.004-08:002013-01-04T19:54:58.597-08:00Funded!!!I struggle with the adequate words to describe all that has transpired over the last 46 hours.<br />
<br />
With every update, it became very clear that we have been treading on holy ground...<br />
<br />
The presence of God has been a blanket...clearly telling us 'I've got this!!!'<br />
<br />
The Lord has moved mightily...boldly...clearly...publicly...<br />
<br />
He rallied the troops all for the cause on ONE beautiful baby boy...our precious son...<br />
<br />
<i>He united thousands and thousands.</i>..<br />
<br />
He showed His faithfulness so all could see...<br />
<br />
He showed His perfect provision...<br />
<br />
<b>His perfect love...</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">ALL</span>...</i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">EVERY SINGLE OUNCE OF PRAISE AND GLORY BELONGS TO HIM!</span></i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"><b>FUNDED...</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"><b>FULLY FUNDED in <u>less</u> than 48 hours...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh, our sweet Simeon...just look at how the Lord used the body of Christ to bring you home...you are loved deep sweet one...very deeply!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>To our precious friends...oh how I wish I could squeeze each of your necks and say 'thank you'! We have read every comment, every share, every email...many tears of thankfulness have been shed these last 2 days. Without you, this incredible feat would have never been accomplished. Your love for our boy and our family is beautiful...we are honored and deeply humbled! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Thank you doesn't even seem appropriate...thank you for being Jesus to our family...we stand in complete awe!</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwf9fLNn4nNUMlfTVyvFdPqKb5V20yyE-MBAWe-oT0huWgWQ8zowb2B5iUHzzVb9j7LjDuhKdFB1Diue322VQ30UwUoMZCWkTu1f2Ku18WWs3ewb5z0yMRENBcNymXApgeFZY0-0XCN5Cq/s1600/mason1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwf9fLNn4nNUMlfTVyvFdPqKb5V20yyE-MBAWe-oT0huWgWQ8zowb2B5iUHzzVb9j7LjDuhKdFB1Diue322VQ30UwUoMZCWkTu1f2Ku18WWs3ewb5z0yMRENBcNymXApgeFZY0-0XCN5Cq/s400/mason1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">our little love...we love you so much...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*please continue to pray for the birthfamily...they love him soooo much!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-38620117954773286912013-01-02T18:40:00.001-08:002013-01-05T21:06:17.636-08:00Redemption!<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
I sit here at my computer in awe...in tears...</div>
</div>
I'm not sure where to begin...<br />
This has all happened so fast yet it was God's perfect timing...<br />
<br />
We are honored...<br />
proud...<br />
humbled...<br />
<b><i>excited to announce....</i></b><br />
<br />
<b>the Lord has blessed us with a beautiful baby boy....</b><br />
a precious little guy who was born on November 17...<br />
an amazing little miracle that many of you prayed for but what you didn't know is that you were praying for OUR SON :)<br />
<br />
his little face was plastered all over facebook...<br />
all over blogs...<br />
all over websites...<br />
thousands upon thousands of people viewing his story...sharing his story...<br />
<br />
many of you praying for him...<br />
praying for his precious birthfamily...<br />
advocating for him...<br />
<br />
a gorgeous baby boy that we had the privilege of meeting yesterday...<br />
the gift of loving on him and his birthfamily...<br />
<br />
ohhh, the beauty of his story...<br />
the beauty of how the Lord brought this to be...<br />
<b><i>the JOY ... the restoration ... the redemption as we still grieve our Zemirah...</i></b><br />
<br />
Today, we received the most glorious news...<br />
We have been chosen to be this little mans forever family...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
INTRODUCING...</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">SIMEON MASON RICHARDS</span></div>
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We are confident God has called this one to be ours. His fingerprints are all over our Simeon's story <span style="font-size: x-small;">(a post for another day ;).</span> <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Many of you have read bits and pieces of his story but there is so much more!! Some parts we will keep private...some parts we will share. But for now....</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">We have an URGENT need....</span></b></div>
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<b>our sweet boy came to us as a surprise...</b></div>
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<b>a surprise to us...</b></div>
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<b><i><u>NOT a surprise to God!</u></i></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>We have an URGENT NEED to raise the funds to adopt him</b>...</div>
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for him to be able to be placed with us...</div>
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The fees are $15,000....</div>
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<b><i>the fees are due NOW!</i></b>....deep breath...</div>
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God called him to us...we are trusting He will provide. Our greatest need is your prayers for our entire family...for the birthfamily. If you feel led to donate, that would be a huge blessing.</div>
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<i><b>We are honored that Project Hopeful has come alongside our family and has committed to helping us raise the funds. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All donations can be made directly through the link <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=2CMBB3FMXEDTQ">HERE </a>or on the DONATE button on the right bar of our blog. </span> All donations are tax-deductible and all funds go directly to adoption fees. Many hugs my sweet friends!</b></i></div>
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<i>~~~~~</i></div>
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And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. (Luke 2:25-26)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-9619856099538441662012-12-19T10:29:00.000-08:002012-12-19T10:29:03.934-08:00Due today....Today my little love...today you were due to be born...but the Lord had another plan for you...you were born 9 weeks ago straight into the Lords arms.<br />
<br />
9 weeks later...I still miss you so much it hurts deeply...<br />
9 weeks later...my grief for you still looms over my heart continually...it's something that doesn't ever go away...<br />
<br />
9 weeks later...I still dream of you...wonder what you look like...<br />
...I still long to kiss your face...to hold you in my arms...to smell your sweetness...to caress your little face...to hear your little coo's...to know your cry...to gaze into your eyes and tell you how much your mama loves you...to hold you close to me...<br />
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9 weeks later...for a split second I still catch myself planning for your arrival...thinking you'll be home for Christmas...<br />
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9 weeks later...it still blows me away that my hands and heart could be so full yet my arms still feel so painfully empty...my heart has a missing part and it's you...<br />
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9 weeks later...oh my baby girl, I hurt so much to have you here with us...<br />
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Our glorious, precious, joyous melody...our Zemirah Joylena...your family loves you so much...we talk about you every day...you have forever changed our lives...you have shown us the ability to find joy in the deepest part of our grief. <br />
<br />
(we would love your continued prayers ... 9 weeks later, our sweet girl has still not been buried or released to us.)<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-40936117468335770012012-11-07T08:55:00.002-08:002012-11-07T09:02:37.510-08:00You are God ALONE!!!I sit here with such a heavy heart...but a joyous, hopeful heart!!!!!!!!<br />
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1 month ago today, our beautiful Zemirah went home to be with the Lord. We were mere weeks away from her birth...how can it be a month already...there are many split-seconds that I still find myself anticipating her arrival but then the sting of reality quickly reminds me...<br />
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So many other things are on my heart, too...real life, every day things....<br />
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I do have hope...I do have joy...not so many words today...this song speaks to the deepest parts of my heart...to the deepest truths I stand on....<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><i>You are not a god </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic;">Created by human hands </span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">You are not a god </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b>Dependant on any mortal man</b> </span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">You are not a god </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">In need of anything we can give </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b>By Your plan, that's just the way it is </b></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">You are God alone</span></i><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />From before time began</span></b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />You were on Your throne</span></i><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />Your are God alone</span></b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><br />And right now </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">In the good times and bad </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b>You are on Your throne </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><i>You are God alone</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b>You're the only God </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><i>Whose power none can contend </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b>You're the only God </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><i>Whose name and praise will never end</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b>You're the only God</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><i>Who's worthy of everything we can give </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b>You are God</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><i>And that's just the way it is </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b>Unchangeable</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><i>Unshakable </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b>Unstoppable</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">That's what You are</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-67420817724574095052012-11-04T07:21:00.003-08:002012-11-04T07:21:57.087-08:00TODAY!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">TODAY IS ORPHAN SUNDAY!!! </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;">TODAY...churches across the GLOBE are raising awareness about the orphan crisis...YES...IT IS A CRISIS!!!! Families are sharing their stories...eyes are being opened...hearts are being stirred! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>TODAY...THE ORPHAN IS BEING GIVEN A VOICE!!! </b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13px;">Today...many will be challenged to answer God's CLEAR COMMANDMENT to care for the orphan...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13px;">Today...many will choose to hear and <i>not </i>act. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Join us in praying for the orphan today...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Join us in praying that the Lord moves mightily within the church...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Join us in praying that EVERYDAY is Orphan Sunday so that children will NO LONGER have to live without a FOREVER FAMILY!!! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Join us in praying that the church will step up and CARE FOR THE ORPHAN!!! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><b><i>It's not a complicated task</i></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">...</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>God has already laid it out in scripture</u></b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">...</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>we need to act on it</i></b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17px;"><b>God created children to be in families...NOT institutions! There were no orphanages or group homes in biblical times...the CHURCH CARED FOR THE ORPHAN...God CALLED the church to care for the orphan. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 17px;">HANG ON SWEET ONES...THERE IS HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/13888620?badge=0" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/13888620">Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/allanrosenow">Allan Rosenow</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-17518020179038755822012-11-01T11:41:00.000-07:002012-11-02T19:51:45.020-07:00Christmas Frenzy<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>UPDATE</b>: Bumping this to the top...need some extra joy today so what better way than to see all of the beautiful babes waiting for their forever families to come and bring them home!!</i></div>
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<div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">Christmas Frenzy is for EVERYONE!!!</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">You will fit in one of two categories....</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">1. Fundraising family</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">OR</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">2. Supporting family :)</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Okay...here's how it works. All of us LOVE to give Christmas gifts EVEN when times are financially tough. This will be our third year posting our Christmas Frenzy and I want to start this thing early this year!!! Because we are ALL gonna get this shopping thing done early for once, right??? A girl can dream, right :)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><b>Seriously, though....I have become very passionate about giving with a purpose. It's such a win-win situation...you help support an adoptive family...they become one step closer to their treasure...<u>you give an awesome gift with a story</u>...SERIOUSLY COOL!!!</b></i></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;">FUNDRAISING FAMILIES:</span></b></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">~You must be in the process of adopting or recently home. You must be using the funds from your items to directly fund your adoption costs.!</span><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">~You are selling an item to help raise funds to bring your child home. (no raffles, please...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 18px;">it's okay if you are currently running a raffle BUT you MUST be selling fundraising items too, like shirts, etc...that is what you need to be linking to)</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">~If someone is giving your family part of the proceeds for items, like Scentsy, jewelry, THAT WORKS, TOO :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">~You need to post on your blog and/or facebook about our Christmas Frenzy and link back to my blog. This is CRUCIAL...the more awareness we raise the more supporting families we will have.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">~Please make sure you create a NEW blog post regarding the Christmas Frenzy...don't link to an old post. BUT don't forget to highlight what YOU are SELLING in that post :)<br />~I would love for you to become a follower of my blog...just cause I wanna know who my friends are :)<br />~Add your blog LINK to the BELOW Linky tool (at the bottom of this post)<br />~Fun idea for fundraising families...you guys can swap items and then have some fabulous items to do a raffle.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;">SUPPORTING FAMILIES:</span></b></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~Make your Christmas list and try to support as many families as you can by purchasing their fundraising items as gift. (click on the below links to see the families)<br />~<b><u>Please help spread the word for these families</u></b>!!! Blog, facebook, tweet, and link back to my blog!!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnwnc57lBmw-GuhjzpLQ5TVcXiFLYO6ldEkB66Oa9oF1SNFSD-NTD9lqUifWIIfFfPen4hVNffxkIINrI7qnsVea_PBgqY7MMoac4IP8SHBucC3TGm5s5uDscPiAuhnRDu2RV-q9QELWl/s1600/christmas+frenzy+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnwnc57lBmw-GuhjzpLQ5TVcXiFLYO6ldEkB66Oa9oF1SNFSD-NTD9lqUifWIIfFfPen4hVNffxkIINrI7qnsVea_PBgqY7MMoac4IP8SHBucC3TGm5s5uDscPiAuhnRDu2RV-q9QELWl/s200/christmas+frenzy+web.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Fundraising families and supporting families unite to bring orphans home!</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;"><br /><br />Link up below!!!</b></span></div>
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-17239819850999063962012-10-31T13:09:00.002-07:002012-10-31T13:37:39.360-07:00Prayer request...burying our girl...In most situations, when a loved one passes away there typically aren't many concerns with burying them because the mortuary handles a lot of the 'behind the scenes' stuff. You are able to notify the family...plan the date....the ceremony... and begin to find closure even though you are left with a gaping hole in your heart. You at least walk away from the funeral having peace that their precious body has been buried with respect and love.<br />
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One of the hardest things for us to find closure in Zemirah's death is that her beautiful, little precious body is in a mortuary in Nevada and we have no legal rights to bring her home and bury her properly. This has been extremely difficult for us. <br />
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We were coming to a place of acceptance when we received a phone call stating the mortuary had already buried her. For a second, there was relief....then the reality of that started to sink in...when was she buried? who buried her? where is she buried? was she given a name? will we ever know where our daughter was buried? A new depth of grieving has begun for us...none of this seems right...our baby girl was buried and we had no say in it...we have no idea where she is...this is almost too much to bare.<br />
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So, I sent our questions to our precious social worker. She had been in constant contact with the mortuary and we were all under the impression that they would keep her sweet body for 30 days while we tried to find the bmama so she could release her to us. It has not be 30 days, so needless to say, we were shocked by that phone call on Friday telling us she was already buried. Our sw has been making several phone calls.......and we just found out.....<br />
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Our little love has <u>NOT</u> been buried...she has NOT been given a legal name...she is now tied up in social services...YES...social services! We have bmama's consent and support in them releasing her to us <b>BUT we need prayers that social services will release her to us so we can bring her home and bury her properly.</b><br />
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We've been told social services can take up to 90 days to determine her 'abandoned' and then we aren't sure what happens...I still can wrap my head around that...90 days?!?!?!?! <i>SHE'S NOT ABANDONED...WE WANT HER...WE LOVE HER...SHE IS OUR PRECIOUS BABY!!</i><br />
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<b>Please my sweet friends...pray for the Lord's will and if it's His will that we get the honor of burying her, pray that social services will work quickly to allow us to bury our beautiful baby!!</b><br />
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<i>In the midst of all of this we do have a bmama update:</i><br />
<i>She called a couple of days ago...what a relief to hear her voice. She is doing amazing! She did receive the 'package' of love we sent her and was so incredibly blessed by it and all of you!</i><br />
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Still clinging to the joy of the Lord...still hurting...still missing our girl...still feeling like we won't ever be completely whole...BUT still trusting and loving our Lord...still hanging onto the hope that only He can give us...still resting in the peace that HE IS IN THIS!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-49383652068133376422012-10-26T09:23:00.001-07:002012-10-26T09:23:15.659-07:002 weeks since 'the call'<br />
Has it only been 2 weeks? 2 weeks since we received the devastating phone call about our precious Zemirah? 2 weeks ago we went from dreaming and planning to grieving and mourning. God has been so faithful to love us...give us peace and comfort...faithful to allow us to hurt but to never leave our sides. YOU my precious friends have stood faithfully in the gap and have laid us at Jesus' feet continually...thank you!<br />
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How are we? We are still hurting...still missing her so much...there are moments that we are okay and moments where we can hardly breath...moments of happiness and moments of deep pain...moments of acceptance and moments of some serious fits ;)...moments of complete peace and moments of disbelief and frustration.<br />
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We are entering the time she was due...where all of our plans for Nov. and Dec. where based upon "when the baby gets here" or "all depends on when she arrives"...decisions we had already made because we thought she'd be here...decisions we were waiting to make because we weren't sure exactly when she'd arrive. And now we find ourselves re-deciding everything because she isn't coming home. :( The sting of her death is a daily occurrence right now.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Our sweet little love, our arms ache so much to hold you. You are in our every thought and dream. Baby girl, we love you & want you so much it hurts but we know you are in the Father's arms and there is no safer place for you to be!</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-16200883421339372122012-10-22T13:57:00.002-07:002012-10-22T13:58:44.220-07:00Joy comes in the morning...<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Psalm 30:5b</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Weeping may endure for a night, but <b><i>joy </i></b>comes in the morning.</span></div>
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This is a post I've been working on all week. I felt like the Lord was unfolding things for me to see...things for me to learn...things for my aching heart to grasp onto...<br />
<br />
ever where I turn....<br />
ever where I hear...<br />
j o y....j-o-y...JOY....<span style="font-size: large;">JOY...</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">JOY</span><br />
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I see it on the beautiful canvas I had made to reflect the journeys to our babes...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEX-zrAbB_J3AuBLW4Em6A_L7cKi7UVgqK-woGIHjPFk3BiRzuSIglV4w7MZHHqPKauvvpnRVEg-f24Aak-pZINiLwOIadcmovgvSXbLpQrcwtpbMiXml6UoBwTI4dzISQbH0V0OJlP9j1/s1600/IMG_0011a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEX-zrAbB_J3AuBLW4Em6A_L7cKi7UVgqK-woGIHjPFk3BiRzuSIglV4w7MZHHqPKauvvpnRVEg-f24Aak-pZINiLwOIadcmovgvSXbLpQrcwtpbMiXml6UoBwTI4dzISQbH0V0OJlP9j1/s320/IMG_0011a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I hear it in a story my husband shares of a friend who's baby also died young...April <i>Joy</i>...</div>
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I see it in a jewelry order for a sweet baby desperate for a life-saving heart surgery...Ivy <i>Joy</i>...</div>
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I hear it in every song....</div>
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I see it in several friends blog posts about counting it all joy...</div>
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I hear the word echo in my head all day long and all night long...</div>
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I see it in a sign I didn't even know I had...</div>
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It's every where..."I'm trying to see it Lord..I'm trying...but it's so hard! Where is the joy in this....I know you are showing me but I'm just having a hard time grasping it."<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Joy: </i><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness.....</i>ummm, ya...so not ecstatic right now!!!</span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></i>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">There is definitely no "I</span></span>'ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, where? down in my heart..." going on over here!!<br />
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Then I realize something...more like the Lord was uncovering my eyes to show me...There is NOT joy in Zemirah's death...<i>so stop trying to find joy in her death</i>. But there IS joy 'down' in my heart because no matter what...I HAVE THE JOY OF THE LORD in my life!!!! There <b><i>is</i></b> joy in Zemirah's little life...joy that she is forever safe...joy that we will love her forever...joy that she IS and will forever be our daughter...<b>joy that we WILL see her and hold her for eternity</b>!<br />
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<i>From a sweet friends blog: I have decided to joyfully accept whatever the Lord allows in my life.</i><br />
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I will accept His joy...His joy is my strength...I may still hurt but I trust Him...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>My beautiful joyous melody...my precious Zemirah Joylena...we miss you...you are ours FOREVER...you will be in our hearts for eternity...our hearts will never be completely whole until we are all united together in heaven. We still weep for you our little love but have joy in knowing that we will see you soon.</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-49255884335435648362012-10-15T20:36:00.000-07:002012-10-15T20:36:59.516-07:00the kids grieve....Today I wake up feeling like I actually slept but I still feel so tired. My body needed to rest but my heart and mind are still very in-tune with what has happened...they don't rest. The weight of this is so heavy...hard to carry but the world keeps spinning and we are being drug along. I think we are in the surreal phase of this grief. Is this really happening? YES...it is...now what are you going to do with it? I don't like being sad...I don't like crying...I don't like the headache that hovers over me continually...I don't think I have any more tears...to know that the Lord has caught every tear comforts me.<br />
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Our precious babes...we try to hide our tears from them but they see them. They are each grieving in their own way. You see....they LOVED their baby girl fiercely....they dreamed about her...talked about her every day...every decision was based on 'when Zemirah comes home'...they had the bedrooms all figured out...they 'discussed' daily about who would get to sit near her in the car...who'd feed her...who'd change her...<br />
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I open the door of our room after 'the call' came..after I called Paul...our oldest daughter was sitting in the play room...she begins to panic...she can see it all over my face...Paul was on his way so we could tell the kids...her tears are flowing...<i>"Mom...what's wrong? Please mommy...please tell me it's not about the baby...please mommy..." </i>I call her into my room and we just hold each other and weep.<br />
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The grief was so intense it was suffocating...how are we suppose to tell the kids...it was just too hard but we manage to tell them what had happened to our girl. Over the next several days, we can see their sadness...we can see them trying to understand and process something that we can't even process.<br />
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<i>~It's not fair! Zemirah never got a chance to live...that makes me really mad.<br /></i><br />
<i>~How did she get to heaven? Who took her there? Will she stay in heaven forever?<br /><br />~Daddy...I'm sad that our sister died.<br /></i><br />
<i>~What did she look like?<br /></i><br />
<i>~We're not just going to sit around here and cry all day, are we?<br /><br />~Mom...(with crocodile tears falling)...can we keep Zemirah's stuff just in case she comes home?</i><br />
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<i>~Mom, I wish our Zemirah wasn't dead because I know she would look so cute in that dress (a dress Jubilee was wearing). I want to see her wearing that dress.</i><br />
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<i>~Mom, why does she have to be dead?</i><br />
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Their comments always come when we least expect it...just when I think we have a little peace and relief from hurting, one of them will say something. Even our little ones could grasp that she didn't have to be home in our arms to be ours.<br />
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<i>Zemirah girl...you will forever be our daughter...forever be their sister...we love you so deeply...we hurt because you aren't here with us but rejoice that you are safe with the Lord. We can't wait to have you in our arms forever.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-19252424313248920782012-10-14T09:36:00.002-07:002012-10-14T09:36:23.904-07:00Beauty and Joy in this...<br />
"I want to believe there's beauty here...where Lord...where is the beauty...where is the joy?"<br />
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Then He gently whispers to me, "The beauty was in the life I created. Beauty is in the life that I brought home and is dancing around my throne. Remember...you named her Zemirah which means joyous melody...the beauty is in her joyous song. The beauty is in your deep love for her...in her daddy's love for her...in her brother's and sister's love and longing for her to come home...in her family...in your friends love and weeping for her..."<br />
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It truly amazes me the conversations you can have with the Lord while you are sleeping. He is speaking so clearly. He isn't removing all of the pain so we can grieve her but He is in the grieving...molding us...directing us...giving us peace and strength while allowing the pain.<br />
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Truths I cling to today...beautiful wisdom from friends:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>*She was your baby. If she wasn't yours, whose was she? God gave her to you to love and to mourn her passing properly, who else would that tiny one have had if not you. So you cry and weep and what a privilege it is to do so in glory to God and in honor of her.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>*She is loved and she is wanted... she was never an orphan because God gave her to her forever family and one day she will be united with her mama, with her daddy, and her brothers and sisters for all eternity and nothing will be able to separate you again...</i></span></div>
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Father, thank you for the short time we had dreaming of our girl...praying for our girl...thank you for giving me the most amazing beautiful gift of hearing her heart beat for a whole hour...for being able to feel her moving. I remember feeling like a little panicky as I tried to hang onto every beat and every movement...I can see now as I look back it was You telling me to soak it up...soak in the rhythm of her heart...I can still hear it...the teeny hand pushing back at mine...I can still feel it. She was alive...she was strong. We are thankful...thankful that she is forever protected in your arms and in our mourning we find traces of joy that we will see her soon.<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-47665492362917689212012-10-13T21:43:00.000-07:002012-10-13T21:48:07.435-07:00The day after....<br />
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We are so blessed by your love and your support as our hearts are hurting. We have read every blog comment...every fb post and prayer...you have no idea how much those are sustaining us...we have an army flooding the gates of heaven on our behalf and the Lord is answering your prayers. </div>
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So much of this doesn't even seem real. 48 hours ago, we were nesting...we were preparing for our baby girl that was to be born soon...at 11:54 am yesterday all of that came to an end..."Can I come over...I want to talk to you in person...." <i>"what...what's wrong"</i> ... "she's gone Stacy...she's with Jesus" ... </div>
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12 hours later...it's midnight...I'm exhausted...I'm in shock...I need to sleep...I want to sleep if only for a bit because that would mean I wouldn't feel this pain...I was wrong...that was the most painful night I've ever had...I tossed and turned all night...was I awake or asleep...I'm still not sure...I had the song Need You Now by Plumb playing over and over in my head...I found myself with every turn crying out to the Lord...I NEED YOU NOW...I need you now Jesus...</div>
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He is meeting us here...He is loving us...comforting us...I know we have to go through this process but it sucks...<br />
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Up and out of bed 5 hours later...I'm going running with my girls this morning...my prayer warriors but I decide I just can't do it so we ditched our run and cried over pancakes ;) LOVE you girls...thank you for crying with me...thank you for sitting quietly...thank you for the laughter.<br />
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Now what for the rest of this day...a boutique...bleck...I have to try to pull myself together and go to a boutique....I just emailed the below message to a precious friend...one of the very first one's to hear about our girl...to cry with me...to pray for us...</div>
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<i>i was so sad to hear that you came today and i wasn't here...the last place i wanted to be was at that boutique...it was so hard to be there...hard to smile and share our story....hard to see people i know and cry all over again...so painful to share my 'sample' jewelry that had my Zemirah's name and the word 'joy' all over it...i went for my trinity...my sweet girl who crafted her heart out last week...my sweet girl who is really struggling with all of this...trying to give her something normal or distracting while all along i wanted to be home holding my babes and in my hubby's arms.</i></div>
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<i>i'm exhausted...my emotions are all over the place...sobbing...angry...despairing...to feeling nothing at all...back to weeping for my baby girl....this sucks!!!!</i></div>
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<i>then i walk in the front door and my beautiful friend who knows me better than she thinks she does brought me my comfort food...left me a precious letter...i love you...thank you for loving on me...thank you for recognizing she was our baby even though she was never in our arms!!!</i></div>
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Our precious Lord is here with us...He is comforting us...He is bringing us answers to some of our 'why's'...He is here! He is using many of you to remind us that He is in this.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-24235694064714199262012-10-12T14:47:00.000-07:002012-10-12T15:24:04.886-07:00Devastated...our girl....Our hearts are deeply hurting...<br />
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Our dreams of our sweet babe in our arms have been destroyed...<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Our precious baby Zemirah is in the arms of Jesus.</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>She went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 7th.</i></span></b></div>
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We are all aching but we are trusting in the Lord's plan and His will. <br />
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We are confused...trying to understand while knowing we will most likely never understand...<br />
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We are stuck in a place of uncertainty...what do we do now? We went from the excitement of planning for the arrival of our joy girl and in an instance, all of that has stopped and has been replaced with deep hurt....<br />
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No words...just aching right now....<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-20923775995786962862012-10-03T11:06:00.000-07:002012-10-03T12:55:47.164-07:00Waiting on the Lord...You know...waiting is NOT my favorite thing to do! And for anyone that has traveled down the road of adoption knows exactly what I'm talking about. It's hard to wait...you wait on your spouse, you wait on your paperwork, you wait on your agency, you wait on your country or birthmother...wait, wait, wait, and WAIT some more!!!<br />
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With all this waiting, you'd think I would be very productive and get something done but nope....I sit around and wait....which is a lot like waiting for a pot of water to boil...<i>GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN and do something for crying out loud!</i> But no...I sit there watching the pot of water...I get excited when even the tiniest bubble floats to the top then I get grumpy when no more bubbles appear</div>
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...but WAIT...I see something happening at the bottom....stink, nothing! I turn away for a minute and lots of baby bubbles begin to form but nothing major...COME ON!!!! I want the roaring, big, bubbly bubbles....let's get this thing on the road so I don't have to wait any more!</div>
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Then my sweet Lord gently whispers to my soul,<i> "Wait on me...trust in me...put your hope in my promises...be strong my sweet girl... persevere...endure...for what I have for you is far greater than you can imagine. If I show it to you now, the best part of the blessing will be spoiled...trust Me, it's worth the wait"</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love the second part of the verse....he's like...'HEELLLOO...YES.....I SAID <b>WAIT </b>FOR THE LORD!!!'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The journey to our precious Zemirah has us in an unusual waiting period...we don't know for sure when our girl is due...could be 6 weeks...could be 10 weeks...long complicated story so we wait and we just may be very surprised when she decides to arrive :) We are ready and excited...bmama is ready and excited. So we wait...and wait....and wait....trusting in God's perfect will and timing...trusting that His ways are not mine! Waiting for the big, beautiful, bubbly bubble :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>After </i>I wrote this post I was telling a friend that I was praying that she would find joy in the wait, the Lord immediately spoke to my heart...I'm talking goosebumps and then tears...We have said all along that the word to best describe our journey to Zemirah would be JOY. With all that has taken place these last couple weeks...things I can't share...but concerns for her safety...I found myself thinking, "Lord where is the joy in this?" God so clearly spoke to me this morning through my prayers for my friend..it was crystal clear...<b>FIND JOY IN THE WAIT STACY!!! FIND JOY IN THE WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-47560428644675113402012-09-14T21:00:00.001-07:002012-09-14T21:00:32.534-07:00"Step back and see"The Lord quickly spoke to my heart today as I was tying to manage our 3-ring circus school day...some days are smooth sailing...some days I'm a ping pong ball bouncing from one kid to the next...today...I was a ping pong ball with a spin ;P<br />
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He whispered, "Step back and see....see what a blessing this is....this will only last a short season so soak it in now!" <br />
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I did...I stood back...grabbed my camera...I honestly could not believe what I saw through my camera lens...children everywhere...MY CHILDREN everywhere...my treasures...my gifts from the Lord...what a blessed mama I am.... <br />
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<i>Even </i>if the 14 month old is sitting the middle of the table eating crayons and coloring in everyone's school books...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THIS IS WHY I HOMESCHOOL!!!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">To be with my kids...for my kids to be with each other!!<br /></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">To embrace that the 'lesson' is in the baby...the 'lesson' is how to minister to each other...</span></b><br />
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<b>Lord, thank you for this amazing reminder...Thank you for gently telling me to step back and to see all that you have blessed me with...thank you for allowing all of these firecracker children to be ours...thank you for calling us to homeschool......</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-26438376975063268092012-09-12T19:03:00.001-07:002012-09-12T20:40:20.405-07:00HER name ... 12 weeks to go ...Yes...<b>HER </b>name...I realized I have been neglecting my blog...stupid facebook ;)<br />
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We found out our sweet one is going to be a girl. We are so excited!!<br />
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Then commences the name game...Paul and I take naming our kids very seriously and it usually takes us FOREVER....and EVER....and EVER!!!!<br />
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As we were talking through names, I decide to reflect on what one word represented each journey to our kiddos and here is what I came up with....<br />
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<b>Timothy - </b><b>LOVE</b></div>
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God had blessed us with great <i>love </i>for each other and we wanted to have a child to share that with...</div>
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<b><i>Trinity - HOPE</i></b></div>
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our hearts longed for another baby & every part of our being desperately <i>hoped </i>for another child.</div>
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<b>Isaac - PATIENCE</b></div>
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his journey was a test of <i>patience </i>because I nearly went crazy every day waiting for 'the call'</div>
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<i><b>Cana - ENDURANCE</b></i></div>
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endurance is just the tip of the iceberg with her journey but we <u>continually</u> felt <u>challenged</u> to <i>endure </i>her journey in a way that would honor the Lord...even when we were hurting so deeply.</div>
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<b>Solomon - PEACE</b><br />
we knew from the very beginning that we were going to need to be at the feet of Jesus the entire time clinging to the <i>peace </i>that He promised He'd give for the journey ahead us.<br />
<b><i>Sarah - TRUST</i></b><br />
Her story is super unique and we've chosen to keep much of it private for now but we knew the only way we would survive her journey was to put ALL of our <i>trust </i>in the Lord...that His plans were perfect...</div>
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<b>Jubilee - CELEBRATION</b></div>
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our journey was short to our sweet Jubilee...our surprise girl...we weren't in the adoption process...then the phone rang with the most amazing news...all we could talk about was how happy we were...the <i>celebration </i>of this sweet one has been incredible</div>
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As I was showing this to Paul, he started to write down the fruits of the spirit...it was amazing how it was all lining up...CRAZY COOL! <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>EXCEPT </i></span>the 9th fruit of the spirit...</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">self-control</span></i></b>...SERIOUSLY!! Well...that is a post for another day!!!!!!! Grrrrr...LOL...</div>
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Back to our sweet girl....<br />
We have about 12 weeks until her due date...</div>
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We finally have a name...</div>
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We are becoming more attached to her every day...</div>
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<b><i>The word that continually comes to us as we dream of our girl is...</i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">JOY</span></i></b></div>
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She will be called....</div>
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Zemirah means 'joyous melody'...<br />
Joylena...Lena is our precious bmama's name...<br />
Jubilee's middle name is Lena after her bmama...<br />
God made it crystal clear that her middle name would be Joylena...<br />
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Beautiful, precious Zemirah, we can't wait to hold you in our arms. We love you so much!!!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-62459066920001384432012-08-14T20:33:00.001-07:002012-08-15T07:46:53.358-07:00 ETANTR: Sterling's journey<i>UPDATE: A note from Sterling's papa: As you know our sweet baby girl was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She had a rare tumor that in all likelihood will regrow and again press on her brain as well as reach new areas throughout her spine. The only treatment that can be offered to us here has a very low chance of helping and if she were to survive the cancer and the treatment she would have to live with severe long term effects. </i><br />
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This post has been very hard for me to write because I know my sweet friend and her family's hearts are hurting so deeply. Honestly, I bawl every time I try...I cannot even begin to fathom the depth of the pain...their fear...their exhaustion...<br />
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Praising the Lord that they are clinging to Him!!</div>
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Meet beautiful, gorgeous, spunky, brave 2 year old Sterling...</div>
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2 weeks ago, Sterling was rushed into emergency surgery for a brain tumor. Two surgeries later, they were able to remove the tumor but the pathology report revealed the most devastating news possible. Sweet Sterling has a rare, aggressive form of cancer...a cancer that is resistant to chemo...a cancer that rarely responds to radiation and Sterling's little body would not tolerate the amount of radiation needed. She has ETANTR which stands for Embryonal Tumor with Abundant Neuropil and True Rosettes.<br />
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Her family would covet your prayers for HEALING...for strength...for PEACE...for direction and wisdom for the unimaginable decisions they have to make for Sterling's care.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">PLEASE follow Sterling's journey <a href="https://www.mylifeline.org/sterlingchronicles/?page=welcome.cfm">HERE</a>. <b><u><i>Spread the word...pray...give...</i></u></b></span></div>
<i>They have set-up an account to receive funds <a href="http://www.giveforward.com/rockstarsterling?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fb_wall&utm_campaign=dashboard&og_action=hug&fb_ref=257183">HERE </a>should you feel led to help them financially.</i><br />
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I have created a fundraising necklace for Sterling's family...please consider buying one...click on the pic. and it will take you to Jubilee's Jewels website to purchase it.</div>
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<a href="http://jubileesjewels.com/sterling-Genesis-33-12"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxO77sJbU2g3MTgye9tRpy0ImtT-Jo11dZqARr4OdrhOi3ElfXzUY9c8YUpRqQl-JOlaWYdSHKo-9ugaCB1ZOHtmNXyLjdSI3NFI5rGFOvKb9PyCC0Rwlz5fxhsL4r2ngfz-mcibTxZlI/s320/sterling+web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sweet, beautiful Sterling...you are so loved! The Lord has you in the palm of His hands and He will NEVER let you go. You are perfectly and wonderfully created for His purpose. We are praying for God's miraculous healing on your sweet body. HUGS baby girl!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-71602179902009516212012-08-08T09:25:00.001-07:002012-08-09T14:58:49.341-07:00Birthmother Baby ShowerHello my sweet friends!! We are about 4 months away from our newest peanut being born. The pregnancy seems to be going well and the baby is healthy and strong. Continued prayers for protection would be greatly coveted!<br />
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I have been asked by a few friends if they could throw us a baby shower...how blessed am I?? This will be treasure #8 and friends and family are still wanting to shower us...love it.<br />
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After much praying, we've decided to do something a little different...</div>
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Our hearts are very burdened for "L"...</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">We want to shower our birthmama!!</span></b> </div>
Without going into too many details, I will simply say that we want our birthmama to feel loved...cherished...worthy...prayed for...supported...these are things she has not experienced very much in her life. We are helping with some of her financial needs but we are realizing that some of her basic needs, like food, are not being met.<br />
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<b><i>So here is our hope...we want to flood her with...</i></b><br />
~<i>cards of love and encouragement</i> (doesn't have to be anything fancy)(you can even email me your little note & I'll put it in a card for you)<br />
~<i>a gift basket full of goodies</i> that will make her feel special and pampered during the rest of the pregnancy (you can send items for the basket or I can pick them up)(do you sell Mary Kay...Scentsy...purses, etc.)<br />
~<i>gift cards to wal-mart</i> so she can buy the food she needs and any other things she might need that we don't know about.<br />
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If you feel led to help us love on our baby's birthmama (she is also Jubilee's bmama), feel free to email me at wearechinabound@gmail.com. <br /><br />This will be a 'virtual' show so feel free to contact me with any questions!!! Our hopes are to send everything to her by early to mid-Sept. "L" is 39 so that may help you as you decide what you'd like to bless her with.<br />
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You can also use the chip-in button on the right hand side and all those funds will go towards a gift card. If you do that, if you would be willing to email me a little note to her...I will put it in a card for you.<br />
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<b><i>Can't wait to watch the Lord pour His love on her through each of you!!!</i></b></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10111269425357018640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500056789639670612.post-76085250529086384112012-08-05T22:18:00.002-07:002012-08-05T22:30:50.033-07:00He remembers...We haven't heard his sweet little chinese (minnan) voice in almost 2 years...he doesn't talk much about China and when he does, it's hard to tell if what he has shared really happened...<br />
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We will celebrate his 2 year gotcha in 5 weeks...we thought for sure he would continue to talk to us in minnan for several months (and hopefully longer) once we were home...but nope...once we landed on US soil, He chose to us charades to communicate and no words until he knew the english words....<br />
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He came to us at barely 4 years old...excited about having a mama & baba...he came running to meet us...dragging his nanny. I will NEVER forget the huge smile on his face as he looked up at us for the first time...he has never looked back...<br />
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The orphanage director confirmed that there was no possible way for him to know mandarin so our sweet boy came to us with no ability to communicate with his new family....we didn't have the luxury of 2 weeks in China with a guide that spoke his language...talk about full immersion :) but he truly did incredible!<br />
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TODAY...today we had the gift of spending time with a precious friend who lives in China. She has played a HUGE roll in helping both of our kiddos home. She was the in-China warrior that the Lord used to help get Cana home...she was relentless in fighting for her...she again fought for us when a situation arose during Solomon's adoption...she has become a very, very dear friend of ours...our sweet Judy. She is in CA visiting and came to church with us this morning (along with her 10yr. old son, 15yr. old niece, and another incredible friend of ours, Sabrina).<br />
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Judy squatted down and started talking to Solomon in minnan....he turned pale, got goosebumps, quietly responded to her ...he then quickly hopped into daddy's arms...the look he had on his face was a look that I hadn't seen since we were in China on the orphanage visit. The visit where he thought we were going to leave him...it brought back so many memories & emotions of those first few weeks. I can only imagine what was flooding through his little head. We had spent several days with Judy in China with Solomon...the thought that our sweet boy,<i> if even for a moment</i>, thought she was there to take him back to China just levels my heart...oh my sweet son...you are ours FOREVER!!!<br />
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Judy looked at us and said, "he remembers...he remembers...he just responded to me in minnan!!" It was all I could do to hold back the tears...our sweet boy remembers...2 years later he remembers...then as I watched his initial reaction...I started to wonder...what is he remembering?<br />
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I immediately praised him...we were all in shock...we honestly thought he had forgotten his birth language...he then hopped into my arms and started calling me "mama" in a baby voice. I quickly realized that he needed reassurance that it was okay for him to talk in minnan and that I would still be his mommy and that daddy would still be his daddy. A sense of relief fell over his face and he begin to interact more with Judy IN MINNAN...we seriously just all stood there in amazement. He spent the rest of the day telling everyone we saw that he spoke chinese. It was so precious...he was so proud.<br />
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Oh my sweet little man...you are the most amazing gift...we love you so much and are so proud of you for feeling safe to remember.</div>
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