Jubilee's Finalization

It is final...she is legally ours...she has been ours since the day she was placed in our arms...actually since the first moment we learned about her...but in the eyes of the legal system, she is now legally ours.

Sweet Jubilee girl, we love you so much. You have changed our lives on so many levels and we can't imagine our lives with out you. Happy Finalization Day girlie!!!

  

  

 Daddy and Mommy making it "official".

Celebrating at Krispy Kreme's of course ;)

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

UPDATE: Please go to Linny's blog for an update HERE!

 Parents have been release and reunited with their 2 bio kids...their precious kids the just adopted are STILL in the orphanage!! PLEASE BE PRAYING CONTINUALLY!!! This whole situation is horrific!

From Jennifer Suen Chen, who is Christine Moghadams sister... 'We need to be praying for Monday's proceedings. PLEASE GET THIS OUT FOR PRAYER! Little 2 year old has a fever and they are worried about malaria. E and I are really traumatized. PLEASE PRAY'

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There is a very precious family in Ghana RIGHT NOW!!! They (along with their 4 and 6 year old) were in country adopting their 4 precious children. With adoption paperwork in hand, ALL of them (YES THE CHILDREN, TOO) were arrested & put in jail on suspicion of child trafficking. The children have been put in an orphanage...yes, their american citizen children, too...I am hearing that the orphanage is a horrific place.

Here is from a friend:
"There is a family in Ghana right now that has been arrested on (unfounded) charges of child trafficking. The family's 6 children (2 bio & 4 newly adopted) have been rendered to the care of a government orphanage while the parents sit in a jail cell in Accra! The bio kids are only 4 & 6 and do not speak the languages of Ghana. The family had their court paperwork with them and the children were all still removed from their parents! PLEASE PRAY for this family!!! The parents' names are Christine & Sol. The US Embassy in Ghana has stated that nothing will be done until Monday, even though there are American born minors affected! PLEASE PRAY for God to intercede and redeem this family! Thank you. 

The family's blog is here.

Our surprise girl!

It is almost impossible for me to believe that our precious Jubilee is ONE years old today! Our sweet surprise girl...I don't know that I every shared the amazing God story behind her arrival. I know most of you know that we were not in the process of adopting when we got 'the call' about our sweet girl....the call that flipped our house upside down in the most beautiful, incredible way imaginable!!  The call that told us about a precious birthmama who desperately wanted to place her baby for adoption...the precious baby that was due in TWO weeks!

Rewind about 4 months...hmmmm...maybe even a little farther back...Solomon had just come home from China Sept. 2011 and was doing incredible...he was 4 and seriously adjusting as if he had already lived with us his entire life...he clung to us as his family and has never looked back. Hubby and I were honestly amazed at how well he was bonding and felt if the Lord ever called us to adopt again, we would adopt older...we had peace about being done with the newborn phase...we were getting older...our kids were getting older..our 3 youngest were all 4.5 years old...it made complete, logical sense to be 'done' with the baby phase.

Fast forward to 4 months before we got 'the call'. My sister-in-law had just delivered their 8th baby and as I held my precious newborn niece, I was overwhelmed with emotions. Hubby looked at me and asked what was wrong?  I vividly remember telling him, "No matter how bad I want this...I could never have this again..." He looked at me so confused...I was confused...I was truly content with never having a newborn babe in my arms again...so I thought!!  I told him, "God has closed our womb (which I was and still TOTALLY fine with...happy actually because we wouldn't have our babes if He hadn't and THAT is an unbearable thought)...."  these words still resound ever-so loudly in my head, "We have 6 children...there is NO WAY a birthmother would ever choose us to adopt her baby...it just makes me sad to realize and accept that we won't have a baby every again."  I remember hubby telling me, "If the Lord wants us to have a baby, He will give us a baby...He is beyond capable."

Then the Lord smiled and I can only imagine Him to say, "My precious daughter, you have no idea what awaits you....."

The Call....we were in the movies when my husband's phone rang and caller id said, 'Nightlight Christian Adoptions'....Paul looked at me and said, "Why are they calling my phone??"  I grabbed that phone and ran out of the theater....I knew it had to be important if they were calling him.  My precious friend and social worker, Kelly, was on the other line...the first words out of her mouth were, "Are you sitting down?" Those were the same words she said when we were fostering Sarah and she told us that her bmom wanted us to adopt her :)  She started to share about a situation that she felt we would be a good match for and wondered if we were at all open...oh and btw...the baby was due in 2 weeks ;)  I sat there shaking, crying...in complete shock. I remember asking Kelly, "Does she know we have 6 children?" And she said, "Yes...this is her 7th baby and she's one of 12...she is totally okay with that...she just wants her baby in a solid Christian home!!"

2 weeks later our sweet baby girl literally came flying into this world and has forever changed our lives!!

She has brought a such a deep joy to our family!! Oh beautiful baby girl, we love you so much! The miracle you are is such an incredible reminder that God's plan for our lives is GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our little beach girl :)

(to think we are going to be blessed with another baby shortly is beyond our comprehension of God's amazing blessings on our family...we can't wait! I almost can hear a HUGE belly laugh from my Lord when I told Paul about 'the 2nd call' ;)

Costco & Adoption

It is no surprise that our family does most of their grocery shopping at Costco.  It is probably no surprise that we go at least once a week...I think our oldest could consume our entire pantry in one day if I let him...this teenage boy thing is so new to me (I have all sisters)...it's actually pretty comical to watch how much his 6' 1" - 14 year old boy can eat...YET...he is still as skinny as a rail.  WHY oh WHY doesn't that work for me...I digress...that's a blog post for another day :)

Back to Costco...obviously with weekly trips to Costco, all of the employees know us and especially know and love our kids.  They see us coming and have samples ready to go for all of them (love that!).  Anyways, yesterdays trip was interesting indeed. I sometimes forget that we are quite the mystery as a family every time we step out the door.  People are always trying to figure us out....most don't say anything, they just stare and you can see it all over their faces.  Some are bold enough to ask, "Do you run a day care?" And when I tell them, "No, they are all mine" they are usually satisfied with that answer and tell me how beautiful our family is and how blessed we are...I AGREE!!

Well...yesterday's trip had the normal 3-4 day care comments UNTIL the toast lady!! Still don't know whether I should giggle or steam.  The toast lady (aka Costco sample employee) stops us mid-shopping to offer the kids toast and the conversation goes down like this:

TL:  Hmmmm, let me guess (finger on her chin)...that one...that one right there (pointing to S, our blondie)...now she's yours.
Me: Yep...they are ALL mine.
TL: What, how can that be...they are all yours?
Me: Yes, maam...they are all mine.
TL: Same dad???? (in her loud, theater voice)
Me: YES! Same dad! (now I'm starting to steam...HOW RUDE...I haven't had this question in years and I forgot how much it makes me mad because of all that question implies!!)
TL: Noooo, can't be! What ethnicity is your husband?
Me: (SERIOUSLY...DID YOU JUST ASK ME THAT???) Yes, it can be and it is! He is caucasian. (I was sure her head was going to spin off in disbelief the way she was shaking her head no)
TL: I don't understand how that can be.
Me: We are an adoptive family...and I do have to say that the questions you are asking are rather rude and personal especially in front of my children.
TL: Well, I was adopted, my brother was adopted...I have 2 step brothers...although, I don't call them my step brothers....blahh, blahh, blahh....
Me: Wow, that is wonderful. Nice chatting with you...I need to finish our shopping. (absolutely baffled that if this woman was adopted, how in the world did she not recognize or even consider that just maybe we were an adoptive family, too)

As offended as I was, I couldn't stop giggling about how much fun I could have with that one. My kids even giggled a bit.  After each 'encounter', I like to follow up with my kids and make sure they understand what was happening in that situation and see if they have any questions.

These situations always remind me that we don't look like the typical family and that we are watched closely.  With that in mind...it is so very important that we are an example of Christ in all that we do...even in how I respond to situations like this. MAKE ME MORE LIKE YOU JESUS!!

SERIOUSLY....I get the privilege of being their mama...with one more on the way...it's an absolute dream. Lord, cause our family to bring you glory!!

#8 :)

It is with incredible joy 

that we share....
that our family is going to be......

blessed with another precious miracle!!

Our sweet Jubilee's birthmama is 3 months pregnant and has asked us if we would adopt the baby and we have said, "YES!!!!!!"  We are all extremely excited and can't wait to hold our new one. It's going to be a LONG 6 months waiting...ya, even 8 kiddos later, I still don't wait well :)

We would love prayer for our sweet baby...for protection...for our precious bmama "L"...for her safety and comfort during and after the pregnancy. For God's financial provision...our agency has drastically reduced our fees (which we are so thankful for) but there will still be fees..."L" is living in another state so we will have some travel costs as well as ICPC cost...and provision for a bigger car...we are maxed out at 9 seats and only have 1 care sooooo, we are looking at needing a 12-passenger van....eeecckkk!

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are reward from him. Psalm 127:3

Blessed is the man who has his quiver full of children....Psalm 127: 5

We are in awe of this precious blessing...in awe of this amazing gift!!

Far too long!!

WOW...it has been far too long since I've posted.  I was thinking about what has kept me away and it has simply been life!  I miss each of you....I miss reading your blogs!!!

HOW are you??? Please catch me up...what has the Lord been doing?

We are all doing incredible. We've been keeping busy with school and extra activities...I've been busy taking care of my babes, trying my best to support my hubby's business (need a website...he's your guy ;), training for a marathon (which is this weekend), Jubilee's Jewels....Oh my what an incredible blessing Jubilee's Jewels has been. Our focus has really shifted to helping fundraising families and it's been AMAZING!!! Last month we were able to give $1200 to fundraising families and it looks like we will do the same and possibly more this month. GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!

We are 21 days away from little miss Jubilee turning 1...YES...ONE!!!  I seriously can't believe how fast this year has gone! Oh how I love this girl...she has been one of the most amazing gifts...she is an absolute hoot!

So seriously, please leave me a comment with how you are doing...I would really love to know...I would also love to know if I can pray for you!!!

Who's children are these anyways?

They are TOO much!!

YES...they are stuck in-between the screen and glass and boy did they and everyone else think it was pretty funny...boogies on the glass and all!!!

Believe for Brody

26.2 miles Again? Yes!

Crazy? YES!! 

CRAZY about caring for the least of these!! 

God has made it clear that I will be running the San Diego marathon in 5 weeks for a purpose. That purpose...is a beautiful baby boy named Brody. 

s..

(isn't he devine???)

This sweet guy is very special to me because he shares the same medical needs as our Solomon. The only difference...he is in need of an URGENT repair surgery...he has had some major complications with his colostomy. Sweet boy is awaiting the funds so his surgery can be completed under the Love Without Boundaries medical program. Would you please join me in prayer and support for these sweet one?

There are 2 ways you can help financially support Brody's surgery.
1. Make a donation through my marathon fundraising page HERE.
2. Purchase a Believe for Brody Necklace HERE.

Orphan Crisis

Last month, I had the honor of being invited to a Women's Leadership Conference to share at a workshop on adoption. I was asked to share "however the Lord leads".  So, after much praying, it was clear that I was suppose to share about the current global orphan crisis.

It was an incredible time of sharing about this crisis...about how the Lord had as ALREADY told us what to do about the crisis...about how to practically impact this crisis...

Crisis: dangerous or worrying time: a situation or period  in which things are very uncertain, difficult, or painful, especially a time when action must be taken to avoid complete disaster or breakdown.

Seriously you guys...I still can't read that definition without crying!  Does this not perfectly describe what EVERY orphan is experiencing?!  I want to scream it from the mountain tops...these children are headed for DISASTER and we are clearly called to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

I shared the overwhelming statistic of over 163 MILLION orphans worldwide...that # is equivalent to the 7th largest nation in the world...that is a population of MORE than the entire country of Russia...

My first response to those statistics are shock, frustration, anger...then it's grief, brokenness, helplessness...then it's motivation, empowerment, determination!

James 1:27 - Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to care for the orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.


Isaiah 1:17 - Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.


Psalm 146:9 - The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.


Job 29:12 - Because I delivered the poor who cried out, the fatherless and the one who had no helper.


Psalm 68:5-6 - A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity;  But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

The scriptures are clear...we are to care for the orphan, defend her, relieve her, deliver her, embrace her as our own.  How do we do that?  How do we repair the brokenness? How to we help these precious ones avoid disaster?

Adoption...fostering...respite care...advocating...ministering...sending humanitarian needs...medical care...nutritional care...educational care...mission trips...donating...orphan ministry...meals for newly home families...sewing...running...the list is endless.

Let's get out there and do something...God has called us to act NOW...the need is URGENT!!

Easter...

We had such a wonderful Resurrection Celebration with both sides of our family.

 Jubilee's first Easter...her little posse :) Ya, she's a tad spoiled!

 Grammy and big brother!

 Auntie Jamie giving her her first sucker...rotten I tell you!

 Smiley boy...can you say CANDY...he LOVES it!

  The girls with my niece...they are all getting so big!!!

 My beautiful girl with her cousin.

My Isaac with his cousin!!! 

Blessed with such an amazing family!

Missing pictures from my in-laws because my camera didn't make it into the diaper bag...boo!!

Praying all of you had a wonderful celebration of Christ's Resurrection!