Have you???

Have you open heartily asked Jesus what He wants for His birthday this year?

~~Be prepared to be amazed~~

14 Years & counting...

Can you believe it baby...we've been married for 14 years today (17 years together). Absolutely CRAZY....I love, love, absolutely LOVE you!!! Still not sure why God chose to bless me with such an amazing man! What a precious gift you are to me! Happy Anniversary love!!

Help Nightlight Win $25,000 at NO cost to you!!

Please vote for Nightlight in the Chase Community Giving program on Facebook. If you don't have a Facebook account, you can easily sign up at www.Facebook.com.

To Vote, follow these simple steps:

1. While signed into your Facebook account, go to http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/
2. Search for "Nightlight Christian Adoptions, Fullerton, CA"
3. Click "Allow"
4. Click "Vote for Charity". Be sure it shows that you have 19 votes left--that means you have voted.

You can only vote once--but please let all your friends know that they can help Nightlight as well. The last day to vote is December 11th! If we receive enough votes to be in the top 100, we'll receive $25,000. If we're in the top 5, we could receive $100,000 to $1,000,000! The money that we receive will assist Nightlight in helping more needy children get a home. We want to thank you all for your support! Please let us know if you need help with the voting process and we will be happy to walk you through it.

Solution for more hours in a day...

Baby C has discovered the age old problem of not enough hours in a day.

Mommy: Okay sweetie, hop into bed it's time to sleep.

Baby C: Why?

Mommy: Because it's nighttime and it's dark outside so you need to get some sleep & rest your body.

Baby C: But I already did last night.

There it is folks...just skip sleeping and you'll have more hours in your day ;)

Pray and Fast these babies home!

Earlier this week the Canadian Government put an immediate halt to all Visa's allowing children to be adopted from Africa. They are launching an investigation and will not re-open adoptions until it's completed.

PROBLEM is...there are Canadian families RIGHT NOW...in Uganda...with their new babies...and they are being told that Visa's will not be issued. Plain english...without their children's visa's their children can't come home!

This precious family is in need of our prayers. Please head over to their blog and let them know you are praying!! Schalk Family blog

It frustrates me greatly when all the political junk gets in the way. I have no doubt that there is a legitimate concern and that's why an investigation is being pursued but let the families that are currently stuck in Uganda get their babies home! I mean, come on, what are these families suppose to do...leave their children in Africa...you know the children that are just beginning the bonding and trust process...the children that were promised to never be left alone again...the children that finally have their forever family...oh, this just breaks my heart.

Oh precious Father, I lift this family up to You! Lord, be with them...fill them with Your peace. Give them wisdom as they make their next steps. Father, we ask for your favor on them and allow them to bring their precious children home. Protect their hearts and give them strength to continue to trust and cling to you. Protect these 2 darlings...protect their hearts, Father...bring these children home. Please move the mountains, Lord!

On a lighter note...Hair Cuts gone wrong....

Here's the setting: I call my sweet hubby to tell him that we are finally on the way home (from AZ) and we should be home in about 7 hours.

The phone conversation goes like this:

Hubby: Oh yeah...ummmm...one more thing...just remember how much you have missed the kids and how much you love them. Please don't start crying when you see her...

Me: What...what do you mean...what's wrong...who?!?! (I'm envisioning one of my babies with a black eye or some other horrible wound)

Hubby: Well...I was on a call for work and I was paying **** (this child will remain nameless but I assure you they are plenty old enough to be watching the girls, especially with daddy home :) to watch the girls while I finished the call. And well...remember how much you missed the kids, okay...ummm, I finished up my call and came out of the room. I saw the girls in the backyard and saw baby C and baby S sitting at the patio table. I'm still not sure how they got out there because I locked all of the doors before I took my call and made it very clear that NO ONE was suppose to open ANY doors & our kids always obey...lol. Baby S had a pair of scissors and she was very carefully cutting baby C's hair.

Me: silence......how bad is it?

Hubby: Really bad....

Me: HOW bad????

Hubby: The worst hair cut, yet. Yeah....it's really bad!

Me: HOW BAD!!!! Like has she been scalped??

Hubby: It's really bad...not sure how you are gonna fix this one...I don't think it's fixable...you'll see when you get home.

Me: Ummm...okay.

I proceeded to call him SEVERAL more times on the lllooonnnngggg drive home and plead with him to tell 'how bad'....I plead with him to send a picture to my phone and he won't put me out of my misery. I prepare myself for the worse and prepare myself that I may have to shave all her beautiful hair off....I keep telling myself that it will grow back, that it's only hair.....

I was pleasantly surprised...IT'S NOT THAT BAD...I can definitely do something with that. Well, actually...I'm taking her to the professionals for this one :)


Okay...now I want to see your "Hair cuts gone wrong". It's your turn to blog about your little hairstylists!! Let me know if you do and I'll post a link to your blog!
Your blogs here...check out these doosies!
Hezra

Oh and here is the final outcome....

Urgent Prayer Request for my Aunt Lenore

~My Aunt Lenore(left) and my mama~

Don't forget to leave a comment and let me know you are praying....I want my family to see the love and support they are receiving!!

Thursday 11/19: My mom is back in AZ with my aunt...can't wait to get an update from her! My aunt had a trach tube put in this morning and that procedure went well. The hope is to bring her completely out of sedation by Saturday. Please be praying all goes smoothly and that God will prepare my aunt for the road ahead.

Tuesday 11/17: My precious aunt is doing well. The hope is to remove the ventilator tonight or tomorrow. They tried earlier but it was not a good thing! Her platelets are still dangerously low but it appears she may be producing a little on her own. She still has so long to go! Thank you for your precious emails and prayers. I can't wait to share them with her!!!

Saturday: She had a rough night. The ventilator caused a large coughing attack which opened 'things' up. Her surgery that was planned for Monday happened at 3pm today. It took longer than planned but the surgeon was very pleased with how it went. He and the nurses continue to marvel at how well she is doing while telling us she is still in very, very critical condition. They have said this is "uncharted territory"...that patients do not survive this! Many specialists across the country are being advised on the next steps. Right now they are handling her symptom by symptom.

She is still far from out of the woods. Her blood pressure tanked again and her body is still not producing platelets on it's own. She is still under heavy sedation and the hope is to slowly wake her soon. Please be praying!

Friday: YAHOO...God is moving!! After today's surgery, the doctor's can't believe what is happening. Her body is healing!!! The surgeon said that people do not live through this...he's consulted several specialists and they are in awe!!

She is still in critical condition. Monday's surgery is a major one! The hope is to close her up, remove the ventilator, and slowly bring her out of sedation. Her kidney's are stable (you know the one's that were in failure & were going to need dialysis) & her blood pressure is stable!!! I just want to scream from the mountain tops...DO YOU SEE HIM...DO YOU SEE HIM NOW? DO YOU SEE WHAT OUR LORD IS DOING? HE IS DOING THIS SO YOU WILL SEE HIM AND BELIEVE IN HIM!!!!

~Keep praying my faithful prayer warriors...God is listening and answering those prayers~

Thursday: Her blood pressure is still very low and they are still having a hard time getting it under control. They have discovered a large blood clot...will know more soon. Please keep praying!! Hey...leave me a comment and let me know you are praying....I want my family to see the love and support they are receiving!!

Wednesday: She had another rough night. The plan is another surgery today. I'll keep you posted. It's so hard when everything is so uncertain.

I know our Lord loves her more than any of us but how I pray He chooses to heal her here but we pray for His perfect will. Lord, we trust you and know your plans are so much greater than we could ever imagine. We love our Aunt Lenore so much and want so desperately to see her body healed. Thank you for continuing to strengthen her...Lord help her to remain strong. Father, continue to amaze the doctors by your miracles...show yourself to our family who have yet to give their lives to you. Update: Surgery was longer than expected and rough. My mom will be there tomorrow morning...should have a good update then.

Tuesday: She had a rough night and rough day.

Monday: The surgeon will be "checking" things out tonight. He said he is pleased with how she is healing but she still has so long to go. One praise...she is starting to breath on her own. My sweet, sweet aunt...we love you so much!

Sunday: She is the most stable she has been so far. The dr. is giving her today to rest. Her veins are still not absorbing fluids. She is still in renal failure...her BP is still too low and she is still on the venilator. Please continue to pray that she can remain strong and fight. Pray that all the drs. involved are making the right decisions. She had a minor procedure this morning and she did great. We are on our way home. It's so hard to leave :(

Saturday: They have postponed surgery this morning because she had a rough night and is not stable enough for this next surgery. UPDATE: Couple hours later....God has once again stabilized my sweet aunt and they are rushing her off to surgery. The surgeon said he needs to 5 feet of 'good' small intestines (we have 18 feet of intestines...1 ft. was removed during the first surgery) Everytime we sit and wait...pace and pray that she will survive the surgery. The surgeon came rushing around the corner about an hour after she was taken to surgery. HER BOWELS ARE HEALING...God is healing her bowels...he didn't have to remove any intestines. The surgeon was grinning from ear to ear...he couldn't believe what he saw. She is still in very critical condition but our hope is soaring. She still has many surgeries ahead of her but right now we are PRAISING our Lord...I just wanted to scream...can you see it...can you see our God moving and healing! Some of our family is saved and some are not...my aunt is...our prayer is that they will SEE what our Lord is doing and that He will become real to them.

Friday: Her body is fighting very hard but she is in grave condition. The surgeon said she is not stable enough for surgery and her body is declining rapidly. She is still in renal failure and she is beginning respirtory failure. Her blood pressure is still extremely low and her platlettes are only at 12,000. Her body is extremely swollen. If they were to do surgery, her blood would not be able to clot. UPDATE: The surgeon said she is not in any condition for surgery...if by any small chance they could get her plateletts up to 50,000 (ideally 100,000) and get her blood pressure stable...he would take that small window and operate. She will not survive without the operation and the risks of the operation are very, very high. UPDATE: I sit here in awe of our Lord!!! The nurses started pumping platelets and BP medication and guess what our God did....He stabilized her BP and her platelets were at 90,000....we are talking from 12,000 to 90,000 in less the 2 hours. She was rushed off to surgery. The surgeon was able to remove the adhesion but her small intestines are in horrible condition. He said they are dying from lack of circulation and because the blockage had been there for so long. The surgeon has left her belly open with the hopes of her intestines getting good circulation and the hope that they will begin to heal. He plans to do surgery again tomorrow at 7:30am to see how her intestines look.

Thursday: She is still very unstable and they can't operate. Her kidneys are beginning to fail and they aren't able to get control of her blood pressure. Surgery is necessary to remove the obstruction but they can't get her stable to survive surgery. My sisters and I have decided to drive to Arizona to be with our family!! We arrived right before visiting hours ended and were able to spend a few minutes with her. My heart is just breaking...she is in so much pain. They have to limit her pain meds. because the meds. could cause her to stop breathing. Guys, she is not doing well...please be praying for wisdom and peace!!

Monday: Calling all prayer warriors! My precious Aunt Lenore is in extreme critical condition. She has been admitted to ICU with an adhesion of scar tissue to her intestines which has caused complete bowel blockage. She is in great pain.

147 Million...Update...my thoughts

I've been so frustrated not knowing what God is calling our family to do to minister to orphans. Yes, frustrated...not with God but with myself for not just being still and patient for God's perfect time to show us in His already ordained way & plan.

We were sitting in church on Sunday and the Lord's message to me was LOUD and CLEAR! HE has given us this amazing passion....HE has built up our desires to minister....HE has called us to wait. WHAT??? Wait???? How long do I have to wait? But I don't wanna wait...I know...I'm such a spoiled brat! Good thing God already knows that about me and still loves me ;)

Soooo, what will I do during the wait? Ohhhh, I will wait in great anticipation and be ready to GO when He says go! And we will continue to pray for God's desires for our family.

Just look at this dollie...

UPDATE: Their goal was met in less than 24hours...You guys are awesome. God is so GOOD!

A precious family in need...Bring Home Cooper. Can you chip-in $5 or $10 to help this sweet family with their final costs? Let's be used by the Lord and bless them in a way that can only be done by God!! They leave in 3, yes...THREE days...let's get to it :)

A post from the LCC yahoo group:

I'm posting this on behalf of a good friend that has been on a crazy adoption rollercoaster (just like my family, and lost a child in China that they had planned to adopt) that is finally coming to an end this Friday when they leave for Taiwan for their little boy. The only problem is that they no longer have ANY money to pay for ANY expenses once they get to Taiwan. They have exhausted ALL financial options and it is a desperate situation. They both missed numerous work days this past month with the flu so they did not receive paychecks and have just found out there credit card limit has now been reduced to exactly what they owe so they have no way to pay for any of their expenses when they get to Taiwan. They already have their plane tickets as there was a grant provided for that. They are leaving on FRIDAY NIGHT. Friday morning they are having a yard sale to sell anything and everything they can to have money to take with them to Taiwan. I asked Ginnie to put a chip in on her blog in the hopes that we can have 100 people give just $10.00---giving them $1,000 dollars by Thursday. If they can get $1200 it would be better as that is the actual amount needed for the hotel.

CAN YOU PLEASE HELP????? They have THREE days to get this money. Like I said, they will be selling what they can at a yard sale on Friday morning before their flight at 6pm. Please please people join me in helping them. 100 people....$10.00 each Ginnie has a heart of gold and does not like the idea of asking for help but she is out of options. Pray that they receive what they need to get their son home. WE CAN DO IT!!!!
You can go to her blog at www.ourfamilycomplete.blogspot.com and donate.
Thanks so much!

147 Million....

One Hundred Forty MILLION ORPHANS....this number absolutely HAUNTS me! I find myself constantly grasping at how can I help...not being able to clearly see what the Lord wants me to do but knowing that I am to do something to help these precious children.

I watch this video and weep. I weep at the sight of so many children in one place...so many children with out mommies and daddies. So many babies without the simple necessities like food, clean water, a safe place to live. The ULTIMATE need...these babies needing to know about our Jesus!!

I just simply can't comprehend that...I can't fully process not having a mommy to hold me and rock me to sleep...a daddy who loves me and provides my every need...a family who cares about ME...who would notice if I was missing, hurting, needing, or sick...oh how my heart aches as I try to fathom how many children need their FOREVER mommies and daddies.

Drawn From Water, Adopt from Drawn From Water on Vimeo.

Guys...we are talking about 147,000,000...OVER ONE HUNDRED FORTY SEVEN MILLION children that are in DYER NEED!!! As Christians we are very clearly called to "Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows." Isaiah 1:17 AND "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice." Proverbs 31:8-9

It's time to speak up, stand up, and be used...time to be obedient to God's clear calling to care for these children. If God's people won't answer that call, then who will?

Father, guide us...show us how you want to use us! We want to be obedient...oh Father, show me...please show me!!!