Adoption: Kids Meet Dad and Their New Brothers

The more time I was spending with the kids it became very apparent that they had their ideas of how they wanted to act like and I was just going to have to accept it.  About every 3 minutes while we were walking around the park Nemo would spit on the ground.  Finally, I found enough courage to say "please do not spit -- that is not polite".  Inside I was screaming "STOP before I vomit!" but I thought that was a little to strong for our first meeting.  I think Alicia was just nervous which was understandable.  We were walking along and she would see someone far off in the distance and she would point and yell really loud "I LIKE YOUR SHIRT!"  Oh my-- that was embarrassing!

My husband had to work on that Friday so he couldn't go up there with me on that day.  He brought Clay and Joshua up with him on Saturday morning.  He left the house around 5am and was there at the hotel at 9am.  It was mandatory that just my husband and I spend a few hours with the new kids alone.  We had to leave Clay (16) and Joshua (8) at the hotel.  I hated to leave them anywhere but since it was mandatory we really didn't have a choice.  We made our way to the kid's foster home.  This would be the first time they would meet Milford.  

As we pulled in the driveway once again my stomach was dropping.  Once I saw them I introduced them to Milford.  They both we very kind.  I could definitely tell that Alicia felt more comfortable around males than females and Nemo was just the opposite. We ended up leaving right away.  We decided to use our alone time together by playing a couple games at the bowling alley just down the street from our hotel.  On the way there, the kids made their first mistake by making fun of Milford's name right in front of him.  They were acting like he was not even there.  I finally told them to stop and that would be last time I will need to tell them that. It is inappropriate to make fun of anyone's name. The mistake was that Nemo did was he kept running his hands all over Milford bald head.  It only took one "stop" and that was the end of that. At first it is really hard to stand your ground because you don't want to scare them but you also needed to address something before my sweet hubby got upset.  He does not like his head to be touched as it is.

We took the kids out for our first breakfast together.  I knew immediately we would need to work on manners.  Oh boy-- I forgot someone warned me along time ago that this is something I would have to face but I had spaced it until I watched for my own eyes.  The slurping, sucking things off plates, wiping food off their mouth with their shirts, and so on.  If this was the worst of this whole process I would be so lucky.  

Once we got to the bowling alley we each tried our hand at bowling.  I think I made everyone feel so much better by coming in last (again).  I am always consistent in that way.  There was lots of high fives and smiles the whole time.  When each of the kids were up there to cast their ball I kept thinking -- This is my child! WOW! This is something I have always wanted to do but I never thought it would actually happen.  Well It has happened and there is no backing out. 

Once we were done bowling we decided to head over to the hotel to have all the kids meet. It was around 11:00 am. This was really the moment we had been looking forward to.  We pulled into the parking lot and I think the feeling was the same for everyone.  We couldn't wait to be together (all of us).  Once we got in the hotel room and we introduced the kids to each other. There was an instant kinship.  I think there was a sigh of relief when we were all together.  All the kids were more relaxed and we were functioning as a family.

We decided to take the kids out to grab a quick bite to eat for lunch.  Nemo and Josh were inseparable.  They were instant brothers.  Alicia was accustomed to hanging out with adults so she hung close to me.  Once we were done eating we decided to go back to the hotel and go swimming.  Nemo and Clay hung out a lot in the sauna until I finally made them get out.  I was worried they would dry up like prunes.  We would all play games in water.  We had a blast.  The kids wanted to stay with us so bad!

 Alicia and Joshua playing with Milford in the pool.

Clay and Nemo in the sauna. Their minutes in there are numbered.

The kids would only spend a few more hours with us on this day and then we had to take them back to their home.  I wanted to keep them and never take them back.  In a few days that would be the case but not today. 

For dinner we went to Pietro's.  The kids totally enjoyed that!  They had a section of the hotel where the kids played laser tag.  I got to in and watch the kids as they ran around and "bonded" with one another.  We also decided to go to wonderland which is right next door to Pietro's.  It is a huge game place.  There were plenty of kids in there that made me so thankful for my children.  I often wonder if parents know their kids are dressed the way they are.

If we had a splurge day while we were there I would say this day was it.  We ate out three times this day, bowling, laser tag, pizza and wonderland all in one day.  I was pooped by the end of the day.  It was around 7:30pm and we were on our way to take them back.  It was a good day and the next day was going to be extremely busy.

To Be Continued.....................

Leave your comments! I would love to hear your thoughts.

Adoption: Our Trip To Get The Kids

In my earlier post I left off with calling the adoption worker in Salem about the time frame on bringing the kids home. I had told her my plan and she said that this needs to be done in a quicker fashion.

This is what she meant by "quicker".

Friday: I was going to drive up early and meet the kids

Saturday: My husband would drive up with the other kids (He had to work on Friday)

Sunday: All of us spend time together/Go to their church/Going away party

Monday: Bring them home



This was so fast I couldn't believe it!!

After searching on the internet for hotels to stay at I chose the Comfort Inn Suites. I had mentioned to them that we were adopting and asked permission if the new kids could spend the night and go swimming in the pool with us over the next couple of days. They seemed so happy and excited for us! They gave me a great deal on a room of $75.00 per night. This included a wonderful continental breakfast, and dinner served on Thursday and Friday. This alone saved us tons of money when you figure in a family of 6 eating out 3 meals a day for 5 days. This was just one more thing the Lord planned in the homecoming of our children. There has been so many other things that has confirmed this is what we should do.

I left early Thursday morning at 4:00 am. On the way there I was thinking "What in the world am I doing? I need my husband!"

For those who don't know me very well, I am very shy and have trouble holding a conversation without help. Its a real mess if I am talking to another shy person --let me tell you! My husband is the social butterfly. He knows all of our neighbors and is always talking to one of them. I'm the one in the house spying through the blinds watching it all. Then he comes in and I have him fill me in on what they talked about. Its pretty bad when kids show up at my door asking if my husband can play! Anyway back to my story....

Once I realized it was Satan in his doubting ways I quickly went from a state of fear to a state of excitement.

I arrived at the hotel and got settled in by 9:00am. The adoption worker met me at the hotel and told me a little bit more about the kids. She gave me their Life Books which tells the children the best they could about the information on their birth parents and about them as a baby. I will talk more about the Life Book in a different post. From there I followed her to the foster home.

Before leaving the house I looked up their address on Google Earth (which is spooky if you think about it). I was going into unchartered territory by myself so I wanted to be some what familiar.

Pulling into the driveway of the foster home my stomach was on the floor and I thought I was going to get sick. Fear is all I could feel at that point until I remembered....

This is my command—be strong and courageous!

Do not be afraid or discouraged.

For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

I got out of my vehicle and followed the adoption worker into the house. I was introduced to the foster parent. There were no kids insight. There was small talk going on between the ladies and inside I was screaming "Where are my kids?" but I never said a word. Come to find out the kids were down stairs and were afraid to come up to meet me. The foster mom went to the stairs and called for the kids to come up. Nehemiah (Nemo) was the first to come around the corner. He was very timid and shy but he had a smile. Alicia appeared right behind him and she looked like this was a big waist of time. No smile. She did say "hi". So at least we were getting somewhere! Nemo who can't not say anything grabbed the photo album that I made them and brought it to the table. He thumbed through it page by page pointing out all the things he liked about it. He was showing me this book as if I had never saw it before. This brought Alicia over and she started to talk and say all the things her friends liked about it and the things she didn't. All her friends thought she was lucky because of her new 16 year old brother. Little did she know he would get on her nerves. This was a great ice breaker!

After about 45 minutes of chatter and gradually getting to know each other we left the house. They both got in the car. The first question Nemo asked me was "can we change our names? I want mine to be _____?" I forgot what name he mentioned.  Both were under the impression that when you get adopted they can change their name.  I told them no they cannot. This was the first time they heard me say NO.  The next question was "we call you mom?" I said "I would love it if they called me mom but that is not expected". My name was "MOM" from that moment on with both kids. It was so sweet!!

I took them to the hotel so they can see where we were staying. I think they thought they hit the jackpot.  I had to apologize that they did not get adopted by a family with alot of money.  They both said it was okay -- and off they were talking about something completely different.  Alicia was opening up more and more. We also went to the mall where I bought them a shirt and we had lunch at the mall, and we saw the Gilbert House.  Nemo thought it was funny how he could scare me with his dare devil acts. Little did he know that would come to a complete hault once we got out of the "fake world" we were in at the moment. I had about 10 heart attacks in one day! He was also trying to be tough - gangster style. I hope he enjoyed it now but I didn't want to scare him too bad but that was NOT going to fly back home.

That whole day was just me and the kids establishing ourselves. These were my new babies only BIG ONES!! Thank you Jesus!

Looking back I can remember how thankful I was. Thankful for the break at night. Since it was just me, the two of them constantly looking for me to entertain them. I didn't want to over treat them because I didn't want to mislead them on how home life was back home. It was finally 7:30pm and time to head back to their house. They kept asking can we just go to our house?" I was so happy they felt this way.

After dropping them off and reassuring them I will return tomorrow, I gave hugs and off they went inside. It was hard to leave them. After all, this was the moment I had been waiting for. On the other hand I was so tired! My husband was going to be there in the morning and we would get to spend another full day with them.

To Be Continued.................



Adoption: Plans For Transition

On the way home I started on my lists of things to do.  I had so much to do it was almost overwhelming. When I finally arrived home I immediately got working on "stuff". We had a room to get completely ready, a boys room to get ready and a trip to plan. My mind kept jumping from thing to thing! I was so excited!!

My stepdaughter always lived with her mom so I never got the pleasure of setting up a room just for a girl.  So this was my first time!! We got a twin bed for her.  I purchased laced curtains and purchased a comforter to match.  It is so pretty! Soft pink and green look so good together.  Her bed was brass with ceramic painted balls on the headboard.  I would go in and just look at it occasionally trying to think is there anything else I can do it make it look more girly.  All this work only to find out that she is a tomboy!  Her worst favorite color is pink!

For the boys room we were able to get two beds that match.  They actually were bunk beds but we decided to put them both on the ground so there would be no arguing on who will get the top bunk. That was one of the smartest decisions we made! We were able to get an extra dresser for him.

In a way I was thankful for the 7 day waiting period because that gave us a few days to prepare for their home coming.  You would think that we had all this time to prepare but in reality these kids could have gone to someone else's home so easy.  Sometimes people wait a couple years for kids.  But now they are coming here for sure and we have 7 days to get our act together!

I called the foster care provider.  I was under the impression that the transition needed to be a slow transition.  I was planning on one weekend staying up there, the next weekend they come here to our home and then that last weekend move them down.  The foster parent was thinking it should be a little quicker than that. Sometime during the transition she wanted to throw a goodbye party for them. I then called the adoption worker in Salem and she said that this needs to be done in a quicker fashion.  

In the next post I will be telling you about our trip, where we stayed and our first time laying eyes on eachother.  So stay tuned!!

To be continued...................................

Adoption: We Got The Children!

The adoption worker warned us that even though we are going to committee this does not mean that we will get these children. There are times when you will be presented at committee 8 or 9 sometimes 20 times before your chosen. This being our first time going to committee and being approved for adoption 3 weeks prior to this committee her fears were becoming our fears. We were going to try for these kids and if the answer was "no" we look for others.  Sounds easy -- right?  No -- it is not easy.  Your heart falls for them almost immediatly and they become yours.


I will say it is amazing how you can look at a picture and they become apart of you. This is definitely a one sided relationship at first because the children have no idea who you are or where you are from. I stared at their picture often and couldn't imagine them with anyone else. They had to be with me (us). As I was looking at their picture I could tell the girl (12 years old) was hurting inside. I could read that she had no confidence in herself, she was the protector of her brother, she was slightly on the heavy side and my heart yearned for her!!! She needed me and I needed her! When looking at the brother (11 years old) he looked very handsome, so sweet, small, young and innocent. I could tell his sister protected him well. Well I was 100% right about the girl and I couldn't more wrong about the boy. The boy is a charmer and I love him dearly -- we will get into that on a later post.

This was the adoption picture that was posted on the Heart Gallery.

This was the first time I saw them.

We happened to be up in Salem on a field trip on the day that the committee was meeting. The committee happened to meeting in Salem as well. I know that sounds like something I would put together but no -- that happened by chance. I was praying everywhere I went that day and every step that I took. I wanted to be excited for my son who was with me because we were touring the Capitol Building and it was exciting but I was in a whole other world at that moment. I was picturing them looking at our book and what was the decision. My mind wouldn't stop! This was the fastest pregnancy EVER!! Pregnant ready to deliver in 3 weeks! Me pacing the floors and praying was the labor part. I was really trying to put my mind at rest because there was a very good chance that we would not get the kids and we would have to look at different ones. Finally at about 1:00 pm my phone rang. We were in the cafeteria at that time.  I ran out of the room we were in and held my breath. Our adoption worker said "Sheri?" I said "Yes -- This is me." She said "well, it was a unanimous vote -- and you got the children!!" I was speechless!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost started crying. She told me that they loved our book and this is the place they want to children to go. Thinking back to that time I can picture myself with shaky knees and sweaty palms and being in a state of disbelief. We were parents of 6 children!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After gaining my composure I asked her what the next step was. She said there will be a 7 day waiting period. After those 7 days I can go up and meet them. I will need to work it out with the foster care worker. I called my husband right away and told him that we are parents of a 11 and 12 year old and also added in good measure that we have 6 KIDS!! If you know my husband I am sure you can picture a HUGE lump in this throat when I said that! I think we were both scared to death but there was no backing out now. You know when you are doing the right thing when things just come together with no effort. I knew this was GOD's heart and so therefore it was my heart! He would help us put it all together piece by piece!


I walked back into the cafeteria and one of the teachers who was in our little group kept looking at me -- her eyes were asking me "is it a yes or a no?". I whispered to her that we got the kids and she let out a shrill shriek! She grabbed her camera and started taking pictures of me because I was grinning from ear to ear. I was also giggling because of her reaction. The people around us just thought we were weird and crazy. They had no idea what was going on and it took alot for me not to shout it from the tallest building around! I was trying to act mature at that moment.


It was moments later that I started to recall many peoples comments that took place over the many months prior to being approved -- "Your crazy!" "You have four kids already why would you want more?' and horror story after horror story. This was clearly Satan and his handy work. He loves to destroy your thoughts and the good work that the Lord has done. After praying for peace about this I had a good feeling inside about what just happened.  After all -- Joseph adopted Jesus as his own. I knew that I knew this was right and what the Lord wanted for us.



To Be Continued..........................................

Adoption: Photo Book

When you go to committee for adoption you need to send a photo book of your family.  At the committee when the Childrens Attorney, Casa Worker, Social Worker and other State workers are trying to figure out what home these children will thrive in they look at the book that you present.  In Oregon there are usually 2 other families besides you trying for the same children.  This is a way of meeting you and your family without you there.  You cannot be present however your adoption worker is there on your behalf.  Once these people decided on what home they will be going to, this book will be given to the children. This is the childrens first introduction to you and your family. Here is our photo album that we created when we went to committee.  

 Cover

 First page to introduce our family

My husband (Milford) and myself (Sheri)

All four of our children (Clay and Joshua up in the corner),

Bottom photo: (Brooke, Ben, Clay and Joshua)

My son Ben's family

 Our daughter Brooke's family

Our son Clay

 Our son Joshua

 My parents (Their new grandparents)

 Short letters to them from me and my husband welcoming them into our family.

 Short letters from Clay and Joshua (since they are the only ones left in the house) welcoming them into the family.

My husbands mom (their new grandma)

Our dog -- Miley

The rest of the animals 

 Our Home

Misc. pics

 Misc. Pics

Misc. Pics.

 Misc Pics

 Misc. Pics

Last page

I am not a scrapbooker although I would love to be.  In the beginning I was really overwhelmed by this project.  Not scrapbooking before I really didn't know where to start.  I finally had to just do one page at a time and I felt it coming together.  Once it was done I was happy with the ending project.

After we got the kids I found out that they loved the book so much they took the book to school with them the next day.  They wanted to show their friends their new family.  From what I hear when Nemo read the letters that my husband and I wrote he cried over the pages.  He was so happy to finally have a mom and a family.  He is a wonderful boy!  God blessed us!

Leave your comments and let me know what you think!

Our Adoption Story

Our new kids 6 month after being placed in our home.

As many of you know we have adopted two older children recently.  They have been with us since April 11, 2010 and the adoption was final on January 6, 2012.  We adopted through the State of Oregon.  I was invited last month to speak on an adoption panel that was held last night.  As I was speaking to the class all these memories came flooding back to me.  It hasn't been that long since the process.  This morning I thought I would tell you about our days and our experiences, our defeats and our victories.  

I can remember going through the classes uncertain which direction we were going to take.  We were indecisive about adoption vs. foster care.  At the time we had 4 children.  Two of them were out of the home both were 21, and then one was 16 graduated with one foot out the door and then our 8 year old boy.  

We decided on adoption because it was more final than foster care.  The purpose for foster care is to eventually reunite the children with their parents (if the parents get their act together).  I am so glad we took that road to adoption.  It is funny as I think about it.  I am a very efficient person who has my list and knows what I want and I go.....yes I go and get the job done.  I had in my mind that we wanted little ones (5 of them to be exact) but no babies.  Needless to say -- The Lord had a different plan for us and knew what we needed and what we could handle.  Before our homestudy was even complete the adoption worker called me and asked if we would consider older kids--- 11 year old boy almost 12 and a 12 year old girl and almost 13.  Brother and sister.  I said before we decided I need to know more information.  She asked her boss and they were able to get our homestudy approved that day and I picked up a "box" of papers telling about these children and their parents.  After reading about them we said yes "we would consider them".  I was surprised that there was no real devastating things that happen to these children from what I was reading.  They wanted to be adopted by a Christian family, who had animals, who had a dog, had a tv and went to church regularly.  Once we gave the okay, two weeks later we went to committee.  There were two other families that were trying for these children.  We found out that after two weeks of saying "yes" it was decided the children were ours! OH MY GOODNESS!!!  There was no backing out now.  We had to wait a week so the workers can look over paperwork and then we finally got to meet them after the 7 days waiting week.  We went up there on Friday to meet them and brought them home with us on Monday.  It was happening really fast and boy were we in for a ride!

This is one of the first photos that we took.  This is the day we met and they were spending the night in the hotel with us.  We were getting ready to go swimming. They look sad, uncertain and scared.  When I saw this picture my heart sunk because I don't remember noticing those faces of uncertainty. If I had I would have wrapped my arms around them to give them comfort. I can tell you they are different kids now.  I am excited to fill you in on the rest of our story.

To Be Continued..................................

Funny Things My Son Comes Up With

I have a son named Joshua.  He is about to turn 10 years old.  He is the sweetest boy you would ever meet.  He has such a sweet spirit.  He says the funniest things and I have written down a few of them.  He doesn't realize how funny he is.  He usually is so serious when he speaks and has no idea how sweet he is!! Lord thank you so much for this little guy!! He brings joy to my soul!


4/20/12 -- While waiting for the other kids to get back from a field trip I took Joshua to a hole in the wall run down donut shop. We decided to eat our donuts in the shop. He asked to use the restroom. When he came back he got really close to my ear and whispered. "Mom -- They used every penny they had for this building and had not spent any money on the bathroom!"

4/20/12 -- Today Joshua and I were driving through Ashland. We were passing Safeway. He looks over and says "Safeway -- That does not look to safe to me."

3/29/12 Joshua was talking to my husband. He was saying "I can't wait to go hunting with you dad!" My husband says "what kind of hunting are you wanting to do?" and Joshua said "ya know... Deer, cantelope......" We all had a great laugh

10/13/11 - Tonight I was singing (my very best by the way) while I was fixing dinner. Joshua comes up behind me and asks me "mom - do you have an off button?"

7/13/11 - Once a gain riding in the car.....Alicia has this beautiful natural curly hair that sometime can become messy looking during in the day if she doesn't keep up on it. She had lost her MP3 player was very upset and disappointed because she could not find it anywhere. She made the comment "I can't find my MP3 anywhere!" and Joshua replied with "have you looked in your hair? It could be in there." She did NOT think this was very funny but the rest of us did!!


7/13/11 - Driving in the car Alicia says "I have a sweet tooth." Josh says "is it white?" Alicia says laughing "No" Joshua says "is it brown? Alicia says laughing harder "No" Joshua says "is it sugary" Alicia says "Joshua do you know what a sweet tooth is?" And he says "No but you can tell me".


1/22/11 Josh saw his old reading teacher at church last night (from when he went to CPE in the first grade). He invited her to spend the night! She said she didn't know where we lived. He told her that you turn right and then left. Then he said "never mind all that just look for the the tall bushes". When she was telling me this she had tears in her eyes from giggling so hard.

1/17/11 Josh said that when he becomes President the first thing he will do is make sidewalks with no cracks because it is too hard to ride his scooter.

12/27/10 I was changing Payton's diaper and Joshua looked at me and said "Where is her peeing utensil?"

12/23/10 Tonight we sat down at the table to eat dinner. Josh asked us "Do I have any indian in me?" dad says "you got some indian giver in ya". Joshua got this huge smile and said "I love giving things!"

10/21/10 We were sitting at the dinner table and Josh asks his dad "dad- when you went to school did they give you spankings?" Milford said "yep -- I got plenty of spankings when I was in school". Josh says "did they use rulers or rolling pins?"

8/18/10 This is another one from Joshua -- "mom, can I have a slipper party sometime?" I said "Do you mean a PJ party?" He said "No-- ya know when alot of people spend the night." I said "Oh! you mean a slumbar party."

8/5/10 Josh: "mom I get really embarrased when I see a girl in a zuccini". Mom: "you mean a bikini?" Josh: "oh yea, bikini."

8/4/10Dad: "Today I went into the new archery shop here in Central Point." Josh: "Were there any other bald people there?" Dad: "What does that matter?" Josh: "I thought that is where bald people go."

8/4/10 Josh: "Mom was there ever a time when you thought your mom was going crazy?" Being very careful on my reply I asked "what do you mean?" Josh: "did your mom ever start singing and it was really horrible and she wouldn't stop? If so...welcome to my world!"

4/23/10We were on the way to work today and I said "This summer Josh we are really going to work on reading". He says "but its going to be summer and it is against the law to do homework in the summer". I said "it is not against the law to do homework in the summer and reading is NOT homework -- it's fun". He says "It is against MY law to read in the summer and if it is not a law it should be." What will he come up with next?

4/16/10My husband and I were giving Joshua a hard time today. We going to go out to dinner and my husband said "Joshua, will you buy us dinner tonight? (being the money bags in the family) and he said "On one commission..........................". He is so cute!!0

3/30/10Once again we were driving in the car and Josh says "Mom, do rabbits vibrate in the winter?" I said "do you mean Hibernate?" "Oh yea -- Hibernate ." I love car rides!!

3/27/10Josh and I were in the car together and he asked me "Mom, is the tooth fairy real?" I paused and said "No -- the tooth fairy is not real". His jaw dropped and said "No wonder why you're poor!" I am not sure where he comes up with things!

3/20/10Today Josh and I were by a box with old pictures and our family and some of them are of me when I was in the military. Josh brought over a picture of Ben in the military (a group photo). He asked me "Mom, is this when you were in the cemetary?"

3/12/10 - Today Josh and I were in Big 5 picking stuff out for Little League that starts up tomorrow. We were looking at gloves, bats, bat bag and Josh picked up a cup and said "What is this for?" I looked kind of surprised and looked around to see if anyone was watching. I was trying to think fast and said "ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm" and he cut me off and said "Oh I know what this is....This is for the knee caps!" So there! Need I explain anymore??? Sounded good to me!

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The Joshua's Sunday school teacher came up to me on Sunday and told me something Joshua had said. He was asking the class..."So if you had a spelling test and you never did study for the test and you prayed "please God help me pass this test" do you think God is going to help you pass the test?" Josh says "NO Way!!" t...he teacher says "Why not?" Josh says "because you didn't say "In Jesus name, Amen".

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I was cleaning Josh's room today. He walked in and said "WOW you are queen of hanging things up and I am King of stashing things!" That is by far an understatment on his part. I found his wallet. He had 6 dollars in there and once I get everything in order I found an extra $11.50 stashed in different places! Josh says "I can't believe I am a grandpa!!" I looked at him and said "What?" He said "What am I again?" asked Josh." "You're a brother in law and an uncle!" "Oh Yea! I forgot." says Josh. I love this sweet boy!

A Letter To My Children About Marriage

A Letter To My Children About Marriage --

I may not have penned this letter but the words are beautiful and should be said to every daughter and son around the world!!

Dear Brooke, Ben, Clay, Alicia, Nehemhia and Joshua,

Should the Lord give you the good gift of a husband or wife, and I hope He does, there are a few things I want you to know. Things that you may not hear from anyone else, and certainly not on TV or through other media. Sadly, your church may not even tell you.

Marriage is not for the purpose of your happiness. Happy as I want you to be and hope you will be, you must yet understand that marriage is God’s design and His purposes must be pursued in order for you to be truly happy. His end is holiness and He will use all things in a life devoted to Him to fulfill that end.

To my sweet daughters:

I pray your husband first pursuit is Christ. After that, he is not hard to please. Admire him, cheer him on and show gratitude, and he will fall over himself trying to please you. Smile often, speak well of him always, and do whatever necessary to try and maintain a pleasant mood about you so that it transfers to your home, making it a place where he and your children love to be.

You’ll have bad days of course, crying days even, and that’s when you go to your bedroom, kneel on the floor and beg the Lord to carry you. Then get up, get a fresh perspective (crayons will come off the wall), and try again. Above all else, make a home.

To my boys:

I pray you marry a woman whose first pursuit is Christ. After that, she may be hard to please only if you don’t know “the secret”. What is that? I’m glad you asked. The secret to pleasing your wife is to make her feel safe and treasured. You may have to move out of your comfort zone to do this at times. She won’t always readily translate the oil change to love, though it means that. But let me give you a “secret question”–a question you need to ask her often. It’s not just in the asking, though. Be sure to focus your eyes on hers, maybe even touch her shoulder or face, and then ask: “What’s on your mind these days? ” And then be ready to listen. She will perceive this as your protection over the matters of her heart. Tenderness, listening, protection. That’s what she wants.

To you all:

If your wife or husband does something really stupid, forgive. If they do it again, forgive again. Forgiveness must be the propelling force in your lives each day. Dwell on the strengths, push out thoughts of their weaknesses. Take every thought captive–choose to love.

Here’s that part you are not going to hear often:

If you find yourself “not happy”, having lost attraction, disinterested, etc., you are not permitted to even think about a divorce. If you find yourselves arguing more and more, don’t think for a minute that “the children will be better off out of this”, because they won’t.

The vows you took on your wedding day were not suggestions. They were covenant vows, before a Holy God, family and friends, to stay with this person the rest of your life, even if you don’t feel like it. You swore a solemn oath and if you can’t live up to it, don’t get married. Decide up front that your marriage is irrevocable. There is far more motivation for getting along if your “marriage house” has no door.

Do not share intimate thoughts or feelings with anyone of the opposite sex. Do not find yourself alone for any length of time with such either.

Divorce is not a “private option”. It will affect multiple families for many generations. When you “separate what God has joined” you permanently injure far more than just yourself.

Guard your marriage as fiercely as you would guard your own life. Treat your spouse as an extension of your flesh, just as God sees you. Treat your spouse like other family members. You know, “you gotta love ‘em, they’re the only family you’ve got”.

I want you to be happy, I surely do. But I will pray for you to be holy.

FROGS!!

FROGS!!!!

One thing about me that you might not know is that I am so afraid of frogs!  I think its because they jump and they are very unpredictable on which why they are going to hop.  They freak me out!!! Well on this day that I was doing a major overhaul on my house and getting it all in order -- I decided the fish tank needed more color.  I decided to go get more fish.  While I was looking for fish I saw these cute little frogs.  Now keep in mind -- these frogs live in water.  If they jump out -- they die.  That sounds morbid! but just like a fish -- if a fish jumps out of the tank --it dies.  This gave me great comfort.  They are so much fun to watch.  My grand kids love them.  I bought them at Pet Country for 1.99 each.  We have a total of 7 in the tank.  You don't have to worry about the tank getting over crowded because they live on the bottom but they shoot to the top to get oxygen and back down to the bottom they go.  I have included a few pictures of them.  

Here is our fish tank.

Here is one of the frogs.

They are so much to watch!!!!! (as long as they stay in the water :))

                                     

Ask!

Ask!

Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.  The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water.

Isaiah 35:6-7

Behold, I have placed within you a spring of living water.  For my Spirit shall be a continual flowing forth of life from your innermost being.  This I have promised to all My children, and this you may experience as you claim it by faith.  All My promises are received by faith.  None are gained my merit, nor are they awards for human achievements.

It is My Life I am giving you.  It is not an emotion; it is not a virtue, though these may subsequently follow.  It is Myself.  Divine grace, heavenly love, infinite mercy, fathomless peace-- all these will spring forth unbeckined and irrepressible out of the depths within you because My Spirit has taken resident there.

If there is dryness within your soul and you do not have this life flowing forth, you need to grieve or chide yourself for being empty.  Fill up the empty place with praise.  Through praise you may open to Me the gates to your soul's temple.  The King will enter and bring His glory.  The Rose of Sharon shall bloom in your heart, and His fragrance will be shed abroad.

For the promise of the Father is to all who believe, yes, to all who are called, even those who are far off (see Acts 2:39).  And this promise is the gift of the indwelling presence of My Holy Spirit, posed to all who have been baptized into the name of Jesus Christ, who have repented of their sins and received remission (See Acts 2:38).

Yes, I say to you, it is a fight.  It is written; "how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Sprit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13).  Ask, and you shall receive, and your joy shall be full.

As surly as a door is opened in response to a knock; as surly as that which is lost is found by the one who searched after it; and as surely as one who makes a request received that for which he has asked; even so, in similar fashion, and with corresponding simplicity, I will give to you, My Child, the Holy Spirit for no other reason than because you have asked me to do so.  I have not placed this blessing beyond your reach, for it is My desire that you shall have it.  How can My Church be victorious without the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit filling each believer? You thwart my purposes and block My path when you do not avail yourself of this, My provision.  Do you suppose I can accomplish My will through a powerless body?  For each Christian is to be a channel through which My blessings may flow, and how can you be open to My blessings if your filled with yourself? Only to the degree that you allow My spirit to flow in will "self" be driven out.

The open heart shall be filled.  The sin confessed shall be forgiven.  The hunger after righteousness shall be satisfied.  Be as a little child.  I will be to you a loving Father.  You shall have what you desire because I love you.  Let this be your hope, and your faith shall be rewarded.  My power is not reserved for a few selected saints.  It is available to all, and it is available to you. ASK!

New Look For The Bathroom

Now that I have been on this tangent for awhile about my home and keeping up with all this kids and all their messes and everything else that comes my way, I keep finding things I want to fix and make better in my home.  We have two bathroom in our home.  One is the bathroom that mainly my husband and I use by our Bedroom and then there is the main bathroom for kids and guests to use.  Did you catch that?  Kids and guests?  I feel for my guests!  That is going to be my focus on getting that bathroom looking pretty and clean.  At the current time it is messy and boring.  The bathroom is stark white with a blue tub, blue toilet, and blue sink.  We rent this home so as much as I would like I cannot replace those fixtures.  I need to somehow work with the color.

Last night I had an idea.  I ran to JoAnn Fabrics and I bought some material to make a curtain.  It took me about 3 hours and I came up with a cute curtain plus a little divider that separates the toilet from the sink.  The main curtain has blue and yellow flowers with a touch of green in it.  The divider curtain is yellow and white.  I am not finished with the curtain yet as I still need to buy some tiebacks for it.  I will work on buying the rug, towels and decorations once we get paid.

My husband feel that we are only renting so why spend money making it look nice.  We have lived here going on 3 years!!  We will stay at least another year.  I wish I did this sooner.  Here are a few pictures to show you my work.

Here is the print of the curtain over the window.

This is the curtian that separates the toilet from sink.  I wanted to draw out the yellow in the main curtain.

Here is another view with them together.

This is the view of the entery way.  Yes that is a green rug.  That will be replaced VERY SOON.

Run The Race

A Perpetual Fountain Of Glory

I have fought the good fight,

I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7

Write those thing I say to you.  Write and hold back nothing of all I shall say to you.  For I shall speak to you in the darkness and shall make your way a path of light.  I will cry to you out of the confusion around about, and you shall hear My voice and shall know that which I do.  For My way is hidden from the rebellious, and from the disobedient, and from those who seek to walk in their own wisdom.

But look to me, and I will be your beacon in the night, and you will not stumble over the hidden things.  You will walk in a way of victory though turmoil is on either hand, even as Israel marched through the Red Sea on a path My hand hewed out for them.  Yes, it shall be a path of deliverance, and My spirit shall go with you, and you shall carry the glad tidings of deliverance to people who sit in darkness and captivity.

Tarry not for a convenient time.  The moving of the Spirit are never convenient to the interests of the flesh, and I shall engineer your circumstances to confirm My plan and My will. You will glorify me; for My plan for you excels all other ways, and in the center of My will is perpetual fountain of glory.

Do not doubt or hesitate, for I the Lord your God go before you.  You already have My promise that the work I begin I am able to carry through to completion.

Yes, there is already laid up an exceeding weight of glory for those who go through with Me and determine to seize the prize. For I have wealth beyond your fondest dreams to bestow upon those who have left all to follow me.  All the glittering enticements of this transient life are as chaff in comparison, for Gods gifts and calling never waver, and My giving is restricted only by the will and choice of the recipient.

Lord Jesus, I cast myself at Your feet.  Let me bathe them in tears for my feet have been like lead.  They have been weighed down with the cares of this life.  I have been like one in a dream who seeks to run and is held paralyzed.

Set me free, Omnipotent Lord, and make me Your glad and willing bond slave.  Free my feet and make them swift to do your bidding.  Loose my tongue to shout Your praise.  Free my heart to love the lost with the great deep compassion of Jesus Christ.  Free my affections and nail them to your cross! Amen.