My Friend

I want to tell you about my friend, Erin Johnson.  Gary and I met Erin and her husband, Phillip, in 2010 when we were in Ukraine.  We were at the SDA at the same time picking up our referrals.  Although the referral we got wasn't meant to be, they ended up adopting their beautiful daughter Mariah.  I have followed their blog ever since then and what an inspiration this family is.

In the Summer of 2012 they hosted a boy from Ukraine and fell in love with him.  When hosting came around in the Winter, they hosted him again along with his older brother.  This is just the short version of what happened but the bottom line is, they are going back to Ukraine to adopt these beautiful brothers, along with their 2 younger brothers. Yes, you read that right, 4 boys.  With that being said, they need to raise about $40,000 to bring them home.  Please check out their blog and help them in any way you can.

Thanks,

Tina

http://enteringtheborderland.blogspot.com

     

  

Faith

Adoption takes faith.  Faith in believing where God is leading.  Faith that the mountain of money needed to complete the adoption will be there at just the right time.  Faith that all that paperwork that you put your blood, sweat and tears in to will get safely across the water.  Faith that the child/children you are blessed with will blend with your existing family.    
 
Webster's dictionary defines faith as a strong belief in something or someone.

This is what the Bible says about faith.
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Matthew 17:20 - "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there' and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 21:21 - "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

James 1:2-3 - Consider it great joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
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Doesn't that just pump you up.  I'm just sitting here saying "yes, yes God."  All these verses are so exciting to me. They make me feel like I can accomplish anything.  God's word is so so good like that. 

What about you?  Where is your faith right now? 

For my bloggy friends that are in the process of adopting I want you to be encouraged and keep the faith.  God sees your need and His timing is perfect.

~Tina

Monday

Well it's Monday.  Cash has Influenza B and Caleb and Carson got thrown-up on at preschool.  Yuck!  Peyton had to ride the bus to school by herself, without Cash being there with her.  I talked to her about it in advance and she said "ok mommy."  This girl just blows me away sometimes with how far she has come and how fast she has learned to speak English.  She was so excited to go to school today because the kids in her after-school class got to go bowling.  She had never been before and she had so much fun.  When I asked her about it she said, "watch, this is how I do it mommy."  She is amazing!

Caleb has decided that the honeymoon is over and it is time to test the waters.  Since I am in the middle of reading The Connected Child I have been able to work with him in a very positive way.  If you have not read this book, especially if you plan to adopt, you need to.  I wish I would have before we adopted.

Since Caleb will be starting Kindergarten this Fall, we have decided to teach him to sit in one spot for a certain amount of time (not really very long for a child his age) and reading to him, or having him watch a movie, or working with him on his letters, numbers etc. (Also, the preschool he attends is having a problem with him wanting to wander around the room during reading time.) Because there really was no educational structure for him at his orphanage, he has no idea what is expected of him like most kids his age do.  Well, in Caleb's mind, 30 seconds is enough time to sit still.  It is not that he runs from one thing to another either.  It seems like he just gets bored and walks around checking things out.  If we try to make him stay in one spot for a little while longer he will hang his head, sulk and then blow snot out his nose letting it hang way down past his chin.  I know, GROSS!! He also does not like to make eye contact with me if he knows he is doing what he is not supposed to.  Even when I go to him and gently lift his chin to look at me he will push down as hard as he can so I can't lift his chin.  We have also put him in time out a couple of times but I sit right there by him and tell him to say "ready" when he is ready to talk about what he did.  It usually doesn't take too long and I hear this little voice say "wedy".  He seems to understand what he did and I try as simply as possible to tell him what a better choice would be.  I sometimes think to myself, Caleb, I am not one of your nannies, I am your mama and I see your worth.  In my eyes you are so bright and oh, sweet boy my love for you will never end. He really is doing so well considering everything.

~Tina

playing with his Innotab

sweet Peyton

           

Ouch!

Please go to this blog, http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/, and read Linny's post for today.  Ouch!

We all can learn from this post, even us, who just adopted a few short months ago.  We can do more.  Why, why would we want to?  Because that is what God calls us to do.  God doesn't call us to bigger homes, nicer cars, big screen tvs, fancy clothes and the list could go on, because all of that is what I talk to my kids about, the Me Me Syndrome.  Look at Me, how can I satisfy Me, what works best for Me.  It really is unbelievable to sit back and watch people satisfy their desires and not lift a hand to help the least of these or to help the families that are doing what they won't for the least of these.  I understand that you have worked hard to get a good job that has provided you a good income but God didn't bless you with that job so that you could bless yourself.

Many times people ask me how my kids are doing and I say great considering where they came from and what they went through.  If they give me the time I will tell them, "but I wish I could go back for more".  I usually get a look from them like, why.  I try to tell them as much as I can as fast as I can before I lose them.  You know, the blank stare, that says I'm listening to you but not really hearing you, agreeing with what you are saying so we can end this conversation and yes it is sad but it is not my problem.  You know those people.  I so much want to convey to them what being in an orphanage is like.  How growing up in a family is so much better for kids not to mention what awaits them if they age-out of the orphanage.  How blessed they would be to have these children in their home.  Yes, it would be work but anything worth having in life takes work and you will be blessed beyond measure.

Please go and read Linny's post above and pray about what God would have you do.  God is not limited by any excuse you may have to not do for the least of these. 

~Tina                

Your Mountain Is Waiting

I read Dr. Seuss' book, Oh The Places You'll Go, to my kids not too long ago and I just loved it.  It made me think of what we go through on this adoption journey.  I will share a few lines from it at the end.

I know 4 families right now that I am blog friends with that are in the process of adopting from Ukraine.  They are at different stages of the process and I know they could use some encouragement.  This road is oh so hard and kind words at just the right time do make a difference.  Please check out their blogs and give them your support and prayers.

http://enteringtheborderland.blogspot.com/
http://themceacherns.blogspot.com/
http://trueandpracticalreligion.wordpress.com/
http://alexinmyheart.blogspot.com/


Enjoy these lines from Dr. Seuss' book. : )

~Tina

…..

You’ll look up and down the streets. Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, I don’t choose to go there.
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And when things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.

And when you're in a slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a yes or a no
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step,
step with care and great tact
and remember that life's
a great balancing act.

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!