Thanksgiving Day Fun

The boys play (Everyday, even Thanksgiving, is Halloween to Garin).....
Mom cooks....
The Macy's parade is riveting....
And brother hung the moon...

God continues to speak....

If you haven't read the previous blog, please start there and then come back. God has given me an amazing day of comfort and confirmation.....


I received this message in an email from Dad a few minutes ago:

"I heard Pastor Tim's sermon this morning about being thankful. In the sermon he quoted Proverbs 3:5-6. I immediately thought of our conversation this morning while you were driving to church. On the way home, I mentioned this to Paula and she commented that she had prayed these verses for D and K just a few days ago.

"In reading those verses after getting home, I also noted three others that have some degree of relevance to the situation. It is your power to act on behalf of the adoption and it in within our power to act to help you as you act on their behalf.

"Proverbs 3: 5-6, 25-27 (NIV)
'5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. 27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. ' "


The last few verses there remind me of the closing song in worship this morning, "Healing Rain" (http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/michael-w-smith/healing-rain.html). I stood with joy, my hands to heaven, as we sang, "Healing rain is falling down. Healing rain is falling down. I'm not afraid! I'm not afraid!" What a blessing that we don't have to live in fear.

Fearless Faith

This is the title of our pastors' message series for the last few weeks, and it has been very timely and appropriate in our lives as we take this adoption journey. Today was no exception.

After months of work to make it happen, our home study was completed and approved, and we have the opportunity to be the parents of D and K. Praise God! Within 24 hours, we began to see the hand of the devil at work in our lives, trying to discourage us. We became worried and fearful, which is just what the enemy wants. He would like nothing more than to see us abandon these kids. Really we had two options, trust the clear call that God has placed on our lives or tuck tail and run, basically telling God that we don't believe He has the power to accomplish His will. We choose to stand on faith.

But still I was afraid, steeping in sinful worry all weekend. Last night, I told God that I needed another sign from Him that we were still on the right path. I told Him that I was committed until He told us otherwise, but that I needed Him to calm my spirit and reassure me. I told Him I wanted to hear His voice the way my pastor, Kari, did when she argued with Him about whether or not He was really calling her to minister to the people of India, but that I would appreciate any clear word or sign from Him.

Well, as God does, He delivered in a mighty way today! As I was making breakfast for Garin, my flesh was saying, "Are we insane? What are we doing? Are we going to take the risk of shelling out thousands of dollars and fall in love with these kids only to stand before the judge and have him break all of our hearts by saying no?"

On the way to church this morning, the autumn leaves were magnificent. I don't think I've ever seen a fall scene that was so beautiful. I said (I talk out loud to God in the car.), "God, if ever there was evidence that you are the creator of the universe, this is it. You are awesome. I wish I could just fall down on my knees and magnify your name right here. Just two weeks ago, on the way to church, I told Karl that it didn't look like the leaves were going to be pretty this year because it was getting too late and we hadn't seen much color. I was just too impatient. I guess I was trying to rush you."

And then, in perfect clarity, He whispered, "Then don't rush me. Why do you want to rush me?" It was like a lightning bolt between the eyes! He made the leaves beautiful in His time, and He will accomplish His will in our lives in His time.

I called Mom and Dad and told them about what had happened, and they shared with me that their financial investment in this adoption is also an act of obedience to God's call and that they are also unwilling to be diverted from God's plan. That was a huge feeling of responsibility lifted off of my shoulders, as I realized that I wasn't deciding for them, but they were also making the choice to stand in unity with us to accomplish God's vision.

I had already received more than enough of a sign for me, but there was more! Worship was so very Spirit-filled. We sang about how our hope is in Him, and there was such an atmosphere of praise. Then Kari and Alan spoke about fearless faith. Today's sermon was about Jairus and how he risked everything - his status, his financial stability, his reputation - when he asked Jesus to heal his daughter because he was a leader in the synagogue, and the Jewish leaders were plotting to kill Jesus. In fearless faith, he risked EVERYTHING....FINANCIALLY...and God delivered because of his faith. Lightning Bolt Number 2!

Later in the sermon, Kari and Alan said, "With God, all things are possible," and then they had us all repeat it with them. Now, how can you proclaim that and not live it?! Lightning Bolt 3!

An interesting point from the sermon was from Malachi 4:2: "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings..." The Hebrew word for "wings" is the same word used in Numbers (chapter 15?) for "tassels". They were referencing this because the bleeding woman in the verses we were studying in Mark wanted to touch the hem of Jesus' garment, the tassels, to be healed.

When I got home, I looked up Malachi 4 and read. Then I thought I'd just like to read about God's power, so I looked up "power" in the concordance. I saw a reference to Ephesians 1:19. Well, I never read one verse, so I started at the beginning of the chapter. Although I've read these verses a million times, I didn't make the connection when I turned to them, but there was Lightning Bolt 4! I think it's important to note here that I am not a believer in the open-and-point approach to Scripture. I don't advocate picking a verse and then finding a way to make it mean what you want it to say. This is just one of those times when God's Word was right on the money and consistent with His promise, and it was an additional assurance of his sovereignty.

Ephesians 1: "1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual Blessings in Christ 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. 15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."

God is so faithful and so caring and so very generous in meeting our needs! What we ask within His will, He provides abundantly. I could not at this moment be more certain that He will be glorified because of and throughout this wonderful adoption journey we are on together!

And even more house pics!

Garin's Room:
Matt and Dima's Room:
Kristina's Room:
Our room:
Our sad little neglected sitting room:

More House Pics

Den:
Gameroom/Playroom:
More gameroom/playroom:
Great room/kitchen from upstairs:
Entryway from upstairs:

Almost Done Moving In....

I've had a few requests for pictures of the new house with furniture in it, so here they are! Keep in mind that I'm not done decorating, and there is nothing on the walls yet. I'm hoping to take care of that this week, so we can have a more attractive Thanksgiving (haha).


From the front:

From the back (you can't see it, but we actually have regulation horseshoe pits!):

My dream kitchen (from great room):
The dining room (from great room):
The great room (from kitchen):

Adoption Developments

We have now begun the process of preparing our dossier to be sent to Russia for translation and registration. As we look at the dossier requirements and the regulations of the Russian government, the elation of another step behind us has quickly given way to the worries that accompany the next phase of the adoption. We are finding this to be the pattern. Concerns, roadblocks and feelings of helplessness are worked through as we accomplish each step. We begin to feel comfortable and confident about the adoption as we overcome them and then experience utter joy and elation as we pass another test and move on to the next phase, only to find a whole new set of issues to deal with. It is disappointing to move from the highs to the uncertainty again, but we know that God is in control and is guiding this process from start to finish. This is where faith is exercised and God is glorified, and that is always exciting! If everything went smoothly at all times, I am quite sure we'd get comfortable and cocky and forget to see God in the details.

If you are praying with us through this journey, please pray specifically for these things now:

- that the Russian gov't will grant accreditation to Buckner in December, as expected.

- that God will make a way for us to meet the requirements for the dossier with minimal headaches and without any time delays to draw out the process.

- that God will provide the right words, doctors, translators and judge for our case. Because of an unnecessary medical decision that was made years ago for prophylactic treatment of one of our family members in order to prevent any possible future issue, it is crucial that each of these people understand the situation, the reason for treatment and the fact that there was not and has never been evidence of disease. It all comes down to wording, how that wording is translated into Russian and how it is understood by the judge.

- that God will continue to encourage us with His promises, His Word and His signs that we are following the path He has laid out for us.

We move forward with confidence, knowing that Buckner has confidence in us. More importantly, WE KNOW THAT GOD CAN DO ALL THINGS AND THAT HE WILL ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSE, AND WE GO FORWARD IN FAITH THAT HE IS IN COMPLETE CONTROL!

The Blessings Flow!

I had the amazing opportunity to speak today with Becky, the foster mother in the family who hosted D and K on their visit to the U.S. in 2005!!! She and her family are already a blessing to us, and we are so excited about getting to know them more in the months and years to come! Becky had some wonderful things to share about our kids, and I am more eager than ever to be their mom.

Until we are officially matched with D and K, we cannot get their background information, but Becky was able to share her observations with me. She shares our belief that these kids were part of a family in the crucial bonding years, which is wonderful news for being able to bond with them when they join our family. She said that they function very well in a family situation and seem comfortable just being themselves. She said that her Russian neighbors told her that both kids had very good speech, grammar and pronunciation of the Russian language, which also indicates that they were not in an institution while they were learning language skills. Both children are very intellectual and good readers. D loves to draw and play soccer. Becky says he is immature in a most wonderful way, as in he is innocent, playful and not at all street smart. She feels that he has been watched out for and protected. He loves America and wanted to stay so badly. K really receives love well and will try any food she's offered. Doctors aren't sure just what is wrong with her knee, but they believe it my involve blood flow issues and that she may be healed with a knee replacement. Another option is arthritis, but either way, it doesn't slow her down. Becky also said that they did deal with the common issue of hoarding, which is typical of institutionalized children, but she said that their institutional behaviors were much milder than those of the other children her family has hosted.

On to other blessings/prayer requests....I received this email from Irina today. Please pray fervently!

Dear Buckner Families,
We covet your prayers! We heard from our Director in Moscow feedback after she met with officials at the Ministry of Education today, that there is a strong possibility for Buckner to be reaccredited in the December group. Our paperwork has been signed off by three ministries so far! We are still waiting on some final approvals, including one from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which was the cause of recent delays with the other agency's accreditation process.
Please pray specifically that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has resolved their review process and will sign off on Buckner's paperwork without delay and that all the final approvals will be in place by December. Please pray that Buckner is in the next group of agencies to be reaccredited. We need your prayers as never before!It would be a wonderful Christmas gift to all the waiting families, children, and Buckner. Please join us in praying!
The Buckner International Adoption Team.

Home Study Approval!

Our local caseworker and the Buckner Adoption staff had a conference about us today, and our home study has been officially approved by Buckner! This means that we will start getting our dossier together and that we will be able to get an official referral for the kids as soon as accreditation is complete! Another huge milestone behind us!

New Information on the Scott Family

I got an email this morning from Shauna, and the news is worse than I expected. Apparently, JT had been having leg pain for awhile, and the doctors thought it was growing pains. This week, he was having trouble breathing while sleeping, so Shauna took him to the hospital. One lung was collapsed and filled with bloody fluid, and the other was half-full of fluid. He has several malignant masses on his lungs. The doctors said it was a form of bone cancer in his leg that has now traveled to his groin and lungs. It is Stage 4, but they are praying for a miracle. The doctor reminded them that children have recovered from Stage 4 cancer before. JT has had three surgeries this week already, and he will start chemotherapy tomorrow.

Shauna's mother just passed away in September, and she is still struggling to get over the depression she has suffered since Hurricane Katrina wiped out their possessions. Please pray for them.

Prayer Request

Please keep the Scott family in your prayers. Some of you may remember that Shauna Scott worked with me last year on the craft show. They were previously stationed at Keesler AFB in Mississippi and lost almost everything in Hurricane Katrina. She has had a hard time since they moved here, and her husband commutes several hours to a base in VA, only coming home on weekends. Her 15-year-old son has been having leg pains, from what I understand, for quite some time, and the doctors were telling her it was growing pains. They finally got someone to dig a little deeper and got horrible news. He has Stage 4 cancer. I do not yet know what kind - leukemia? something in the bone? I don't have a medical background and can only guess. I tried to call Shauna, but she was at the hospital. I left a message with her husband and hope to hear from her when she has the time and energy to call. This news makes me literally nauseous. In addition to the gravity of the situation, having a 15-year-old son myself makes it all a bit too close to home. Just please pray that God will give them strength, peace and healing.

Sunday at the Shore

I love the footprints behind them!

Garin had a great time chasing the seagulls.

Time to Regroup

After several very busy weeks, Karl, Garin and I are enjoying a lazy day at home before Karl leaves tomorrow on his first mission since the deployment. We dropped of Becky and Jonny at the airport last night, and they are safely back home. It was a difficult goodbye for me. I told Karl that the more children you allow into your heart, the more heartache you face. Of course, you also face many times more joy as well!

I will post some photos from their visit. Garin is very fond of his Halloween costume and asks to wear it almost every day. Sometimes he gets his wish, as evidenced by these pics. Becky and Jonny saw the ocean for the first time on Sunday. It was so cool to watch her excitement and joy as she stood on the shore and watched the waves roll in. It was high tide, and the waves were breaking right up at the shore. A couple of times, they surprised us, and everyone but Garin managed to get their feet, shoes and pantlegs completely soaked. Brrrrr! We also got some salt water taffy on the boardwalk for the ride home. It was a great day!

One More Box Checked

As of this morning, our home study is complete! We had our home safety inspection and had the opportunity to read the draft of our home study report. The draft was faxed to Irina, our Buckner caseworker, as soon as our home study caseworker got back to the office. Once Irina looks it over, the final draft will be signed and notarized by the home study agency and will be sent to Buckner. Once Buckner receives it, there will be a conference call to discuss our case, and hopefully an official referral will soon follow. It is very possible that we could have one (or should I say two!) more amazing things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! Keep on praying!

Also keep praying that Buckner's accreditation will come through soon. God has proven to us over and over again how perfect His timing is, so we are trusting Him to bring everything together just as it should be.

We are having a wonderful visit with my daughter-of-the-heart, Becky, and her son, Johnny, who flew up on Monday from St. Louis and will be here until this Monday. It is so good to be together again for awhile! The boys are only 2 months apart in age and are behaving like brothers - playing hard and fighting hard. I am thanking God He didn't give me twins!

This house is incredible, and we are so blessed to be here. Karl had a good mid-year performance review at work and got some great feedback. He deserves it, and I'm so glad he is back in the squadron again. We did learn that we will definitely be here until the summer of 2009. The AF changed the time on station for most everyone to 4 years from the 3 years it was before. We had thought that we might get around that because he is up for Major, but the squadron needs its more experienced pilots badly. Most of the pilots we have now are young and not yet qualified to be Aircraft Commanders or Instructor Pilots. This is good news and bad news for us, depending on how you look at it. But we're okay with it, and as always, God knows His plans for us!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! I'll be back soon!

The Gift of Giving

We have been given an amazing opportunity to send gifts to D and K, which will be delivered by a missions group to their orphanages. Last night, we went to the mall and bought a watch for D and a purse and necklace for K. We cannot, for obvious reasons, tell them that we want to be their family or that we're trying to adopt them, but we can let them know that they are loved and hopefully encourage them. Our notes to them will go something like this:

"Dear D/K,

Every night when we go to bed in the USA and know that you are just waking up to start your day in Russia, we pray for you. We ask God to bless you and give you strength for the day ahead. We ask Him to protect you and let you feel His love. We hope that each time you see this watch/necklace, it will remind you of the many people who love you and pray for you and of Jesus, who is always with you. He has a beautiful plan for your life. You are so special.

Love....."

I am going to take pictures of the gifts before we send them, and someday soon I will show those photos to D and K to remind them that we loved them long before they knew who we were.

I am insanely busy with the craft show and the move both coming up next week. Please keep us in your prayers. We are excited but also very stressed. As of last night, the craft show nightmares have begun. Actually, that's progress. Last year, they started much earlier!

APPROVED!!!!!!!!!

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!!!!!! Another major hurdle behind us.

We received a phone call today from the home study case worker, who informed us that our home study will say that we are "approved for the adoption of a sibling group, ages 10-15." She will do the home safety inspection as soon as we move into the new house and will have the final home study in the mail to Buckner within a couple of days for them to decide about giving us the official referral for D and K.

We must not stop praying, though. Please continue to ask God to guide the Russian officials to complete Buckner's reaccreditation, so that we may go meet our children and bring them home. The expectation and hope is that the accreditation will be complete by mid to late November. Also, please pray for all those who will make decisions about our specific case, that they will be compassionate and speedy. Most of all, keep praying for D and K, that God will continue to guide and protect them and that He will reassure their hearts constantly that they are loved and wanted, even though they cannot know about us yet!

There is no adequate outlet for the joy we feel with each small victory on this journey. We jump, we scream, we dance, we cry, we laugh, we scream some more, and we hug until we are afraid of crushing our ribs, but we are still bubbling over and cannot express it well enough!

Thank you all for your prayers and support!!!

A Most Miraculous Week

For those who haven't heard, we reached the end of our patience with base housing. The completion of our home study was waiting solely on our getting into the new house, and the powers that be were not giving us any indication of how much longer we would be delayed. We went for a drive and came across this beautiful home for rent for only slightly more than what we are paying here! We move in a couple of weeks.

Even more wonderful for us was the package we received in the mail today from Buckner, which contained almost 2 hours of video of D and K from the summer of 2005, when they were here in the U.S. with the Angels from Abroad program!!!!! We are soaking it up, absorbing every expression, every word and every smile from these two children who have taken up residence in our hearts. If I can find a way to put some of this video on the blog later, I will try to share it with you!

HE'S HOME!!!

Two very happy fellas!

The whole gang at Red, Hot & Blue.

It was an amazing day! I can't wait to share more, but for now, these photos will prove that he really is home!!!

HE'S HOME!!!

Wow! The day was magical: the church van "finding" me as soon as I turned onto 301 and following me the last hour to the airport, the way our group reached out to and bonded with the others who were waiting, our group's determination to stay long after Karl came out to make sure that every returning military member was greeted with signs, waving flags and shouts of "welcome home" and "thank you," the smiles that we received in return, a fun lunch with our church friends

Preparations...

We hung the welcome home banner this afternoon! Tomorrow morning, we'll put out the flag, gather our posters, flags and camera and head to the airport! Karl is outprocessed, all checked in for his flight and just waiting for them to start boarding!!!

Less than a Day!

This time tomorrow, I will have my husband home again!!! I cannot express the excitement, nor can I explain how much I am blessed by our church family! At last count, I believe there are at least 10 people from our church who are riding the church van to welcome Karl home. It is an almost 2-hour trip one-way. They are making signs and bringing flags, and we are all going to share lunch on the way home. I could never have imagined such an outpouring of love, and I am so thankful and eager to share this wonderful occasion with them!

On another note, please read today's blog on http://www.bucknerprez.typepad.com/ . Our dear friend, Dr. Hall, is in Russia this week. Please take special note of his call to prayer regarding accreditation. It is so close, and it would be incredible, not only for us but for many other waiting children and families, if the process could be completed quickly! Sometimes the red tape seems to drag on forever, but they are adding agencies to the list frequently, and I pray Buckner is next!

We'll keep you posted on the exciting developments that God is working in our lives!!!

3 Days to Go!!!!

We are in the midst of last-minute preparations for Karl's return! I want everything to be as close to perfect as possible, so he doesn't feel like he has to come home and go to work around the house. I'm mowing, washing the car, replacing our petunias and snapdragon with pansies and ornamental cabbages, getting everything caught up for the craft show and getting the house in shape. It's so exciting to be planning and shopping for family dinners again and to know that I am doing all of our weekly activities alone for the last time before he gets home. I'll try to keep you all posted on his return, but I can't promise I'll be spending a lot of time with my computer.

I sent an email to some in our church who have been very supportive of us all during this deployment with their prayers, phone calls, emails and offers of help. I told them that I know Baltimore is a long way, and I certainly don't expect them to go to the airport to greet Karl, but I wanted to extend the invitation to them anyway. I wanted them to know that they were welcome there if it was something they wanted to do. I truly did not expect them to go, as it is a work day and a long drive. I was wonderfully surprised to learn that the pastor is driving the church van and several people are going with her - even taking vacation from work - to be there with me to welcome Karl home! We are so blessed by our church family! It will be a special day, and we will have some special photos to share, thanks to their presence.

Catching Up...

It's been a wonderful week of catching up with old friends and spending time with family! Garin and I spent several days in Illinois with Matt and got to watch him march in the band and run cross country. We also spent time with some very special friends who feel like family. It felt so good to be back there and to realize that some friendships don't change, regardless of the distance between us.

This weekend was my 20-year high school reunion in Texas! I still cannot accept the fact that I've been out of school longer than I was in it, but I had a great time and the best possible date to fill in for my husband at our dinner: my sister, Marci, who graduated one year behind me and knew everyone too. I expected that people would look older, heavier, worn and weathered; it's been 20 years, for heaven's sake! But I was just so impressed and amazed at how great everyone looked!!! We decided that our class has definitely aged well; we were all looking pretty hot for almost-40. Yay for us! It's amazing how much and how little things change with people. I will probably blog about that in the near future, as it was an eye-opening and thought-provoking experience, but I haven't processed my thoughts yet and don't even feel like it tonight. I have, however, attached some photos from the week.

Karl has his official orders to return home and will be back where he belongs in approximately 8 days!!!!!!!!!!!! Please pray for his safety as he flies back.

One more thing....

Karl is up for a promotion to the rank of Major, and the promotion board will be reviewing his performance reviews, etc., in the next two weeks. They take two weeks to look over all of the candidates Air Force wide and choose the ones they want to promote based on how many slots there are available. Please keep the board in your prayers these next two weeks, as their decision has a major (pun intended) effect on our future. We won't know if he made it for a couple of months, but we will let you know when we get the good news! ;-) Thanks!

ESTIMATED DEPARTURE DATE!!!!!!!!!!!

Karl has one!!! It was posted tonight when he got to work. Of course, it cannot be posted here, but feel free to call me if you're interested! He hasn't actually been assigned a flight yet, but he's finally in the "people leaving" column, so to speak, and that feels SO good!

Garin and I had a good day. He still had fever this morning, so we couldn't go to church, but he has felt so much better and been much more pleasant today. His fever jumped up to 101 again tonight, just before bedtime, but I'm hopeful that he's on the way back to health. It's been a rough few days with no one to give me a break and a very fussy and clingy little boy to care for. Of course, I am so thankful that his illness is just a very common, curable one. With all of the information about Childhood Cancer Month, it really puts things into perspective, doesn't it?

A Choice

This has been one of those days where you have to make a decision to either fall to pieces or buck it up and be thankful that your problems aren't the kind that will change your life forever. About 10:00 this morning, I was leaning toward the first option, but I'm glad to say that I changed my mind and got through the day without tears.

Garin woke up from his nap yesterday with a fever but no other symptoms. I was up on and off throught the night with him. This morning, I skipped the shower and makeup and planned to clean house and then shower before our small group Bible study tonight. Garin seemed to be better, and he was driving me crazy to play outside. I decided to go ahead and let him go out before the day got hot. Problem was that I accidentally shut the door behind me, and in these goofy old houses, the doors automatically lock. By the time I got in touch with our base housing people, and they came to open the door, Garin was red-faced and hot. I had been keeping him in a shady, breezy place, but he obviously was getting feverish. As soon as we came in, I took his temperature, which was 103.5. I put him in the bathtub to cool him off, gave him some Motrin and called the doctor. They wanted him to see a doctor right away, so off I went looking like something the cat dragged up. We ended up spending 2.5 hours at the clinic to learn that he has a bad ear infection. Then we had a 2 hour wait for the antibiotic at the base pharmacy. I ended up taking him home for a nap and going back for the medicine, but I had to wake him up again to go get it before they closed.

It wasn't an earth-shatteringly crazy day or anything, but it was just one of those days, and with Karl gone, it seemed worse. I just wanted him here. It was probably the day I've most needed him since he left. I guess I can count myself lucky in that regard. One friend has taken her son to the ER twice since her husband deployed, and another deployed spouse has been twice with her kids.

I think what I really need is just some sleep, so on that note, I'll say goodnight. Have a great weekend!

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know that…
In the United States, cancer is the number 1 killer of children by disease.
Each year, about 3,000 children die from Cancer – more than from Asthma, Diabetes, Cystic Fibrosis, Congenital Anomalies, and Pediatric AIDS combined.
Currently, one in every 330 Americans develops cancer during childhood or adolescence, before the age of 20. On the average, 46 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer every weekday in the United States.
Nationally, the incidence of cancer in children is more than 20 times greater than the incidence of AIDS in children.
Pediatric cancer funding is nominal in comparison to other more publicized diseases, such as pediatric AIDS or juvenile diabetes, which increase in awareness each year.
Awareness of much needed funding for Pediatric Cancer is virtually absent from the public eye due to lack of media attention. For example, the funding for pediatric AIDS is four times greater than the funding for pediatric cancer, yet in comparison, twice as many children die of cancer in one month as do die of AIDS in one year.
The cases of pediatric cancer are increasing at a rate of 1% every year, while funding for research continues to be minimal.
Cancer during adolescence and young adulthood is increasing and unexplained; progress in treating cancer in these age groups is lagging.
Although cancer survival among children, in particular, those with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), has risen, there are still several childhood cancers that continue to have a very poor prognosis; including brain stem tumors, metastatic sarcomas, relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, relapsed Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia.
Cancer in childhood occurs regularly, randomly and spares no ethnic group, socioeconomic class, or geographic region.
A number of the advances in adult cancer treatment are due to breakthroughs in childhood cancer research.
Only about 20% of adults with cancer show evidence that the disease has spread to distant sites on the body at diagnosis yet 80% of children are diagnosed with advanced disease.
Chances are that your child will not get cancer: the odds of your child developing cancer by the age of 19 is approximately 1 in 330. But, cancer is second only to accidents as a cause of death in children.
And, just as you put your child in a car seat or a seat belt each time you get into the car, just as you teach your child to play safely, just as you watch your young child constantly so that he or she does not get hurt, so you also need to watch for signs of childhood cancer.
Signs of Childhood CancerSigns of Childhood Cancer:
Continued, unexplained weight lossHeadaches, often with early morning vomitingIncreased swelling or persistent pain in bones, joints, back, or legsLump or mass, especially in the abdomen, neck, chest, pelvis, or armpitsDevelopment of excessive bruising, bleeding, or rash
Constant infectionsA whitish color behind the pupilNausea which persists or vomiting without nauseaConstant tiredness or noticeable palenessEye or vision changes which occur suddenly and persistRecurrent or persistent fevers of unknown origin
As a parent, you need to be aware of the symptoms of childhood cancer. Your pediatrician is probably a very good doctor, but pediatricians are busy, they do not know your child as well as you do, and they may never have diagnosed childhood cancer. You need to know to trust your own intuition when you feel that there is really something wrong with your child, even if the doctor initially interprets the symptoms as a common child ailment. Your doctor may be right, but you need to make sure that certain tests are performed to rule out cancer.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Increase your awareness. Childhood cancer is not all that uncommon. The public needs to be aware that childhood cancer occurs in 1 in every 330 children by the age of 19, and that childhood cancer has not yet been "cured". Awareness will hopefully lead to increased private donations as well as increased governmental funding of childhood cancer research.
Awareness Organizations
There is a plethora of organizations, small and large, that work to raise awareness for childhood cancer and to advocate for children who have or had cancer. Most of these organizations also help cancer families in one way or another. CureSearch, the fund-raising arm of the Children's Oncology Group (COG), is probably the largest such organization in the US. Candlelighters is another large and influential awareness group; it is founded and run by parents of children who have or had cancer.
Become a Blood, Platelet, or Bone Marrow Doner. So many adults and children die before a Bone Marrow match is found. www.marrow.org and www.americasblood.org
Become a ChemoAngel. Chemo Angels are a group of volunteers that are dedicated to bringing a ray of sunshine to those undergoing the treatment of cancer. www.chemoangels.net
Support Sites:
www.curesearch.org
www.candlelighters.org
www.stbaldricks.org
www.goldribbons.com
www.stjude.org
www.locksoflove.org

Orphans of God

Time to Climb!

Garin has fallen so in love with the outdoors in the last few weeks, and I wanted him to have something to play with besides the nozzles for the water hose. I went looking and searched online for a play set that was appropriate for his age but that wouldn't be too small by next summer. Anything I found that fit the bill was $400! CRAZY for something they'll only use for a couple of years. Then Julie told me that the people catty-cornered across the street were trying to sell a little gym. I stopped by this afternoon and bought it for $100! It's in good shape and it's perfect to keep Garin occupied in the backyard for the next couple of years. Plus, I can feel like we got our money's worth when it no longer interests him. The couple we got it from was kind enough to come over and help set it up for us, and they even threw in some of their 2-year-old's cute clothes he'd outgrown!

My Stargazer Lilies

Karl sent these to me on our anniversary. Aren't they gorgeous?!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

It's been three years since Karl and I said our vows: three long years and three very short years all the same. We will have to wait until his deployment is over to celebrate together, but I will celebrate today anyway because he is my husband, and I am the most blessed woman in the world because of him. I am a cheeseball, I know, but I am a happy cheeseball! Below is the poem that I wrote for Karl and put in his anniversary present. He still hadn't received it as of this morning, but since he can't read this blog where he is, it will still be a surprise when it arrives there. (Don't spill the beans!)



THREE YEARS

One-thousand ninety-five days have now passed
Since the one when I pledged you my life.
And each day I feel more amazed than the last
By the blessing of being your wife.

The love that we share is a gift from above;
There is no other way to explain it.
Only our God could construct such a love,
For this world could not ever contain it.

The first time we met, it was part of His plan
Spun long before we ever knew.
My heartaches were mended as only God can,
By the precious and dear gift of you.

Each moment together affirms that our love
Is more than most people will know.
The strength of our marriage, most only dream of.
As we weather the storms, watch love grow.

We are blessed by our children, some near and some far,
And the joy of their love and their laughter.
We are a family, wherever we are,
Today and from here everafter.

I treasure this gift which is more than I dreamed
When I prayed; for I waited so long.
How could I have known how much more He would give?
A true love, a soul mate, my heart’s song.

Too much fun

Garin and I ran errands all morning and grabbed lunch at Sonic on the way home. As you can see, he didn't have the energy to finish his food before taking a nap. It was all just too much.

TGFB

Thank God For Benadryl! Garin and I both woke up yesterday having allergy fits: sneezing, watery eyes, runny and itchy noses. I took Claritin but couldn't find anything for an 18-month-old for allergies. I gave him decongestant, but it just didn't touch it. After another crabby, miserable morning for him, I called a friend who has an allergy child. The doctor told her that you can give Benadryl at a dose of 0.5ml per pound of weight. So off we went to buy some Children's Benadryl. The very first dose made a HUGE difference in his comfort level and demeanor. The nose has almost completely stopped running, and he is acting like my baby again! Anyway, thanks Kim! I felt so guilty about taking Claritin when he couldn't have any that I skipped it this morning to suffer with him.

And more good news...We each got a letter from the State of DE, Division of Family Services, stating that we had passed our FBI and SBI background checks, which are required by the Federal Child Protection and Safety Act in order to be a foster or adoptive parent! Of course, we weren't worried that there would be a problem, but now we have the proof that they need, so it puts us one step closer in our faith journey as we work to adopt D and K.

I was in a bowling tournament today and placed fourth on the women's side. There was a small monetary award, but my scores were more exciting than the payout. I had a 163, 177, 135 and 159! That is a 159 average!!! I'm rather pleased about that.

Hope you've all enjoyed a day as beautiful as we have! Have a great weekend!

TGIF!

It's funny how we grow to appreciate some days of the week more than others because they symbolize relaxation, freedom, family time, etc. It seems that mindset lingers even in the desert, where there is no such thing as a weekend because there are no days off. There is a Friday ritual among Karl and his new buddies on the base where he is deployed. Instead of going back to their bunks to sleep (or in Karl's case, to work on his Masters' classes) after work, they change out of flightsuits and into PT uniforms (basically Air Force P.E. uniforms), which are much cooler in the sweltering heat. Then they meet up to talk, laugh, talk about home and relax. I get the impression that it's the one time of the week when Karl feels normal, and that makes my Friday happier just for knowing it. I've been hearing about these fellas for almost three months, and I was tickled to open my email this morning and discover that he FINALLY sent photos! I thought you all might like to see him and his friends too. (The guy in the picture with Karl is also from here and also a devoted family man who is very homesick. Sounds like he and Karl have really looked out for each other over there.)

Update: I had to crop and reattach the photos for two security-related reasons: One, the file names of the photos had the guys' names. I didn't realize that those file names came up when you clicked on the photos in the blog. Two, our camera is way too good! When enlarged, the military ID's on some of the guys were totally readable....WAY too much info. Not that I think any of you would misuse the information, but this is out there for everyone to see if they can find it. It might not be that big of an issue, but I'd rather err on the side of safety for our men in uniform! :o)

The New House

One evening this week, Garin and I took a walk over to the construction site to get new pictures of our house in progress. Here they are! In the first photo, our house is dead center. In the second, our house is the one just to the right of the house that is being blocked by the truck in the picture.
Karl is doing well today, and so are we! After a week, okay weeks, of meetings and obligations, starting tomorrow I will have a number of free days. The ones that aren't free are at least not overbooked. There is hope!

The Week in Review

This much I know: God is present in the details! I can't begin to tell you about all the little moments this week when I realized how perfect God's timing is, but how it is! I realized it again today when I thought of the timeliness of Karl's deployment. I mean, obviously, it makes my life more difficult right now, but in the grand scheme of things it is perfect timing, especially in regard to the adoption.

Garin had his 18-month checkup this week. He's grown 3.5 inches in just over 5 months! I knew he had been holding out on us. I guess he was saving his growth spurt, so he can surprise Daddy in October with how big he's gotten. Three shots this time, but thankfully there was no fever to speak of!

We had a blast at story time on Tuesday at library. Garin loves music! Of course that shouldn't surprise anyone; it's in his genes. He is keeping me on my toes these days, climbing on everything. His laugh is always at the ready these days. All I have to do is look at him just right, and he cackles with delight. I enjoy him so much, but I look forward to October when I can do the hand-off to Daddy now and then and make a meal (or even just take a shower) without interruption.

Matt is getting back into the swing of things with school. They are having band practice and cross country practice daily. He is registered for classes, and they'll start in another week. Of course, the kids are all reconnecting after a summer of mission trips and vacations, and they are reinstating their Saturday afternoon hang-out at Perks (think Friends....Central Perk).

After a hiatus from the praise team, I'm going to be helping with music for the service at the new satellite location in Dover, starting in September. Should be fun! It will be great to get back into it with only one service per week. It was just so hard on Garin to be at church for five hours on Sunday morning.

Other than that, I'm just getting ready for my first real OSC Board meeting as President on Thursday and trying to get finished up with my Hermeneutics and Music papers and my Greek and Music tests, so I can stop stressing out about school for a little while. I guess I'll take Greek II next semester, but I think with all the other things going on I had better take just one class.

Well it's time to bury my nose in my Greek textbook again. Happy weekend to all of you!

Oh, the excitement!

We're moving right along at a rapid pace here. So much to get done and never enough hours in the day, but life is good! I'm finding it difficult to work on school, OSC, move preparations, adoption, keeping up with Garin and still find time for blogging. My apologies to those of you who have shown concern that we might have fallen off the face of the earth, and my thanks to you for caring enough to check!

This week has been a hodge-podge of multiple meetings and doctors' appointments, and the time I have left goes to Garin or school work. Although last night I gave myself an assignment-free evening, put Garin to bed, popped some popcorn and watched "The Holiday" on pay-per-view. I really needed and enjoyed that! I ADORED the movie, but there is something about a good love story that makes you think about your own. When the movie ended, I just wanted a big hug and kiss from my husband, and I was a little bit sad.

I've turned in three papers so far this week and am feeling good about getting it all done. I'm still terrified of my next Greek test and am praying that my brain will hold all of this information at least long enough for me to finish the semester.

It's been hotter than Hades (okay, a slight exaggeration) here for the last week or so, with temps in the mid to high 90's, and the East Coast humidity is alive and well. I'm so thankful our A/C was fixed last week, but that leads me to this week's mini-crisis: my brand-new dryer isn't working, so I'm trying to get someone to come fix it. It's still under warranty, but the two repair shops that Whirlpool authorizes aren't answering the phone or returning my calls yet. Hopefully I'll hear from them soon, as I really don't have time to sit at the laundromat.

I got some good news/bad news today from housing. I ran into the housing administrator this morning and asked her how things were going. She said that the construction schedule has been pushed back, and she has to send out new letters to everyone with new move dates. On one hand, it's good news for me because I don't have to rush home the day after my class reunion to be here for movers on Monday. It's bad news because it gives me less time to get our new house in order before Karl gets home. I really don't want him to come home to chaos. He deserves a chance to rest and enjoy his family rather than unpacking. Plus, it will rush us to prepare for the home study visits that should happen the following week.

This is where I just give it to God and know He is in control, as there is not a thing I can do about it!

I'll try to better about posting more often, so don't give up on me!

Stress

So here's the rundown on what I'm doing and what's happening:

Deployment
Adoption
3 College Courses
OSC President
Moving again on Sept. 24
Being Mom and Dad
Maintain Household
Various Other Stuff

Now I'm not looking for pity or a pat on the back here, but I wanted to give some indication of the craziness of my life these days. These things are really all great blessings in my life, and I will not complain about a single thing.....okay, so I'm not loving the deployment thing, but this deployment is shorter and easier than most.

I was starting to feel like I might lose my mind earlier in the week, so I made a list of every single thing I could think of that needed to be done (except daily things like meals, laundry and housework) between now and Karl's return. Then I put them in order of importance/chronology and put each one on a specific day in my calendar. Now my days are all full of tasks on the calendar, but it finally feels manageable. I can handle doing 7 things a day and feel like I've accomplished something this way. Before, I was flailing about trying to knock things off a list so long I couldn't process it all and feeling like I was never getting anywhere.

Isn't it funny how perspective can completely change the way you see something? And it can also completely change your attitude toward it. Thank goodness!!!

Matt's doing great. Karl's great, too, except for some homesickness. Garin is picking up new words all the time and is all over the place.

Garin and I went out for a crab dinner tonight at the Officers' Club with my next-door neighbor, Julie, whose husband is also deployed right now, and her daughter Cadence. It was nice to get dressed and go out for dinner!

Saturday will be devoted to homework, laundry and my little boy. Sunday morning is worship, and Julie and Cadence are coming over for supper that night.

I hate to be so short and sweet, but I wanted to update before I fall asleep on the computer. Have a great weekend everyone!

Volleyball Champs

Karl's intramural team won the championship game last night, and he sent me the first picture since he's been there that he is actually in. In the others, he was always behind the camera. It is good to see him! He was also chosen to play on the base team (Good for him!), which means he may do a little traveling in the area (I'm not so happy about that part!) to play other base teams. It is good that he has things to look forward to while he's there though.

Two Handsome Boys at the Shore

We had a great afternoon of sand and surf, and I was there with the two most handsome men on the beach! Garin called out "Bah-buh" (brother) to Matt several times when Matt came back toward us from the water. It was so sweet! Garin had so much sand on him that even after his bath, I'm not sure we got it all, but he had a blast playing in it! Matt spent most of his time riding the waves on his boogie-board while the girls nearby watched closely.

Our New House

We took a walk down to see the house under construction last night. There was no gate, so we were able to actually walk through it and see the layout for ourselves. Our neighbor had told us that it was open. I wish I had taken my camera because tonight they had a gate up. There were a few other people going back last night, so I don't know if they needed to stop it, or if it depends on who closes up for the day. I couldn't believe how much they did today!!!!! Yesterday, there was only framing, no walls or roof, and tonight it looked like the outside walls and roof were almost all covered! Anyway, tonight I took some pics from a distance, so here they are! The first is on zoom, obviously, and the second is from the end of the street. It will dead-end where we were standing. Our house is in the middle (pointed roof) in both pics. We also got notice today that the moving company is sending someone out on Aug. 1 to inventory our stuff, so they know how many boxes, etc., they'll need. This is standard procedure, but it means things are moving along!

Matt's visit with the adoption caseworker went fine. She spent maybe 5 minutes with us and just wanted to make sure he knew what was going on and that he wasn't violently opposed to the idea. I felt rather encouraged after talking with her today. It is starting to seem more real.

Afterward, we went to Rehoboth Beach and got some great clothes for Matt and Garin (oh, and me too!). I've lost 3 more pounds since I got back to Dover (imagine that), and although it's only three pounds, my jeans were already getting saggy. I found a couple of pairs of jeans to get me through the next month or so, and then hopefully they'll be too big too. Yeah, right. A girl can hope!

Reality and Possibilities

Today was busy, busy and quite productive! We got our new house switched to a 4BR, and they gave me new move date of September 24. This should be interesting, since my 20-year high school reunion is the weekend before, but I'll make it work. We also received our criminal background clearance from the State of DE, which we need to complete the home study. I got a bunch of things Karl wanted in his next care package and am now just waiting on back-ordered PT uniform shorts which should be in by Wednesday (we hope) before mailing. We went out to lunch then did some major grocery shopping this afternoon. Tonight has been pretty laid back. I made stuffed peppers for dinner, and Garin played outside awhile. I also stopped by to visit my next-door neighbor, Julie, for a few minutes. Her husband left for his deployment this morning, and I wanted to check on her. She's doing okay - not great, but okay is the best you can hope for sometimes. Last July, her husband was finishing up a 6-month deployment when she was diagnosed with cancer, and he was rushed home. She's a bit uncomfortable with him leaving again. Their daughter is confused about when Daddy is coming home. She thinks he's coming back everytime she sees a jet, and Julie keeps telling her he won't be home until it's cold outside.

We're planning a trip to shop at the Rehoboth Beach outlet malls and then to Cape Henlopen for the sand and surf on Thursday. One day, maybe tomorrow, we are going to look at bedroom furniture for Matt. I won't be buying yet, but I want to know what he's thinking as far as what he likes. If D and K come to us, we'll need two beds in that room, and I want the furniture to match. I think I'll pass Matt's set down to Garin in the new house. It's not fancy, but it's still in good shape and will be good for a mischevious little boy who has not yet learned how to take proper care of his things. When he gets past the magic-marker-on-furniture stage, he can have his own nice bedroom set too. Either that or we'll sell Matt's stuff and buy a new kid-friendly set for Garin....we'll see. The pretty daybed in Garin's room can go in the girly room, which I can't wait to decorate in feminine colors! If something happens, and we don't get the kids, it will be the guest room, and the guest(s) can enjoy something pretty while they're here.

I miss being in Texas, but it's also good to be home.....especially now that there is SO MUCH to do! I was just starting to think I was reaching a plateau....that'll teach me to think! What a wonderful life this is, full of joy and excitement and possibility!!! Blessings to you all...

Random Thoughts from a Tired and Busy Mind

It's been way too long since I posted, and for that I am sorry. I have spent the last six weeks back home, where I have been spoiled and loved, and I didn't feel like taking the time away from family to write down my thoughts. I managed to take four tests in one week, putting me closer to finishing the semester in a somewhat reasonable time frame, and then I just enjoyed the comforts of home. I am always thankful to be there, but this time was particularly special. Perhaps it was because Karl is gone, or maybe it was because we could be there long enough to get past the rush of seeing everyone and getting everything in that we want to do. But no, it was just the joy of family, all together again. I know you will probably all read this, so I'll try not to be too mushy.

My parents still take care of me when I'm with them, and it's so reassuring to know that you're never too old to be babied a bit. It's also nice to share the grown-up things with them and know that they will stand behind me no matter what. My grandparents....I get teary-eyed thinking of them....have always been such a special part of my life. I dearly enjoy sitting in their living room or around the table with them. I love to hear my Memaw pray before a meal. You can feel her heart pouring out before the Lord, and I just wish I had a little tape recorder in my pocket sometimes. There is something so precious about seeing the way Garin loves them and wants them, and how they satisfy him in ways the rest of us don't. And then there is my sister, Marci. Marci is that one person that has always known me inside and out and always will. There is a comfort in that which is hard to explain to anyone who isn't so privileged to have a sister who is also her best friend. I'll leave that there because it is what it is, it is a relationship that is larger than life and cannot be put into words. Sandra, Eli and Emma - my nieces and nephew - each one is very unique and equally easy to love and admire. Two came through adoption, one by birth. It doesn't matter which is which, so I won't tell you. They were all sent to us by God and are amazing, beautiful people. I am so proud of each of them. My cousin, Doug, must also be mentioned. He was my favorite playmate when we were children. He pretends to be tough, but he is as soft as can be on the inside. He has always been there for me and will forever be one of my best friends. He is a deep thinker and understands more than most of us ever will, and he loves just as deeply. But he somehow still manages to be the funniest person I've ever known.

I also had the chance to spend some time with some very special family members who adopted me by marriage. I am so thankful for my mother-in-law, who accepted me and loved me from day one, and who always has a kind word and an understanding heart. My father-in-law and stepmom-in-law were kind enough to make a long trip down to spend a couple of days with us. They have big hearts which they share without reservation, and we had a great time with them. Jill, Trint and Clancy - Karl's sister, husband and son - are some of the coolest people I know. They work hard, love deeply and make life more pleasant for everyone around them. I had more fun with them! And I was so happy to see Karl's sweet Memaw again!

Stomach flu was everywhere while I was down there. Memaw got sick first, followed by Garin and me. Trint, Susan and Jill were next. And just when we thought it was over, Dad and Sandra got sick just a couple of days before we left. Thankfully, no one else caught it, and we made it home without having to deal with illness!

Two more of Mom and Dad's friends were diagnosed with brain cancer: Rudy and Ron. And Jill lost a dear friend, who was wife and mother to four small children, to an aneurysm. It seems to be a terrible trend. Ron seems to be doing well with chemo and radiation. Rudy was rushed into surgery on Thursday because he suddenly became paralyzed from the waist down. They feared another tumor on his spine, but I have not yet heard the results. I do know that God does miracles, so please keep praying!

God worked an amazing miracle in the last few weeks for another friend of my parents. Glen Schmucker is a pastor in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and he is one of those people with an amazing gift for compassion and understanding. I have never actually met him, but I have considered him a friend, or maybe a kindred spirit, for some time. It is odd how someone whose face you've never seen can be so close to your heart. Glen suddenly became ill three or four weeks ago. On July 9, he was so bad that his organs were failing, his blood pressure was dropping and his children were called in to say their goodbyes. But God DOES work miracles, and Glen has gone from unconscious with liver failure, heart problems and more to being taken off the transplant list. His liver function is back to normal, he is off the ventilator, and his body is healing. Why? Because some doctor made a very good educated guess about treatment and gave him an antiviral medication that happened to target the virus he had....all before they even knew he had a virus. It's a God thing!

After a long but blessedly uneventful three-day drive back to Dover, I am exhausted. I have a big list of things to take care of this week. The big thing is that I have come back to the news that our housing is being demolished on October 15th. We have been assigned a 3 bedroom house and are to move on Sept. 27th!!! I had been told in May that we would move in November at the earliest. There are a couple of issues to consider here. One is that we need at LEAST a 4 bedroom if D and K get here before we leave Dover. That should be easily taken care of. I have been told that if I have a letter from the agency stating our intent to adopt, we can get the larger unit. Of course, had I known they were pushing everything up, I could have gotten it to them prior to housing assignments, but I think it should be cleared up easily when I go in and talk to them tomorrow. The other issue, of course, is that this will be the third move in three years that I have done without Karl. He always manages to be gone when we move, but it's not his fault! It will all be worth it, though, because if all goes well, this would allow us to be in the home D and K would come home to prior to the completion of our home study. This means the home study won't have to be updated before the kids can come. Of course, I'm assuming that the kids will be approved for us, and the adoption will go through as we hope. Please remember this in your prayers. God has a plan for us and for these children, and there are so many steps along the way. Please pray that God will open the right doors, close the wrong ones and make His will the reality!

Now it's 10:00, and I need some sleep!!!!!! I'll say good night for now. There are a bunch of great photos to post, but I'll have to wait until tomorrow for that, I'm afraid. Love to you all!