IF IT WAS GOD THAT BROUGHT YOU TOO IT HE WILL BRING YOU THRU IT

15.5 HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH AIRLINE

149 HOURS OF TRAVEL

21,600 MILES OF PLANE RIDE

48 HOURS ON A TRAIN

28 DAYS OUT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

COST: GOD DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE,,,FOR OUR FAMILY PRICELESS!!!!! 

 

 

" I HAVE FOUND OUT WHY PEOPLE DONT BLOG AFTER THEY GET HOME"

WELL I GUESS YOU HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHERE I HAVE BEEN WELL TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH I HAVE BEEN DOING THE SAME THING AS YOU...CAN YOU SAY WOW!!!!!!!   I CAN EVEN IN RUSSIAN..WELL HERE IS A QUICK UPDATE ON WHAT IS GOING ON SINCE I HAVE LAST HAD TIME TO WRITE... I MADE IT OUT OF THE UKRAINE MOSTLY IN TACK SOME BATTLE SCARES TO GO ALONG WITH A HECK OF A STORY.. FIRST HERE IS A RABBIT I NEED TO RUN... FOLKS LISTEN IF YOU DONT EVER LISTEN TO A DUMB PORK-N-BEAN SALESMAN AGAIN LISTEN TO THIS::::::  YOUR GONNA HAVE YOUR NEW YUNGGENS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE IT"S NOT FAIR TO PICK THEM UP FROM THE HOME UNTIL YOU DONT HAVE TOO..  DONT THINK YOUR GONNA HAVE SOME SORTA MINI VACATION WITH YOUR CHILD AND TIME TO BOND... TRUST ME  TRUST ME DONT SPEND 7 DAYS WITH THEM WAITING FOR THEIR PASSPORTS, AND VISAS GET IT ALL THAT YOU CAN DO DONE THEN AT THE LAST MINUTE GO AND GET THEM... I AM NOT INTO SPREADING MY DIRTY LAUNDRY OVER WWW.  BUT IF YOU WILL CALL ME I WILL BE HAPPY TO EXPLAIN IT IN REAL TERMS..BUT THERE I WAS IN KIEV WAITING ON A PASSPORT WHAT DO YOU KNOW ONE MAN FAILS TO SHOW UP FOR WORK THAT DAY TO STAMP THE KIDS PASSPORT SO WE WERE A DAY LATE WITH THEM. THAT PUT US IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUDGET WAR IN THE US ON THAT FRIDAY. AS I SAT IN THE EMBASSEY THAT FRIDAY MORNING TO GET THE VISAS I DIDNT KNOW WHETHER WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET OUT ON MONDAY IT IS A TWO DAY PROCESS.. IF THE US GOVERNMENT WAS TO DECIED TO PLAY POLITICS AND SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN THE I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE UKRAINE UNTIL IT WAS OVER...THE DAY BEFORE I WAS ACTUALLY SICK AT MY STOMACH FROM WORRYING ABOUT IT... BUT I HAD SAT AND WORRIED LONG ENOUGH TO THINK OF A WAY OUT AND BACK INTO THE COUNTRY WITH THE CHILDREN MY ONLY PROBLEM WAS THE CHILDRENS PAPERS I DIDNT HAVE CONTACTS TO FORGE ANY IMMAGRATION PAPERWORK.. #2.. I HAD EVEN FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET TWO US SENATORS  ON THE PHONE TO HELP ME.. BUT I HAD FAILED TO GIVE THOSE WORRIES TO GOD  I WAS TRYING TO MAKE THIS A MIKE GURLEY PROBLEM, BUT THIS JOURNEY WAS ABOUT GODS PLAN FOR ME.. I WAS JUST TOO HARD HEADDED TO GIVE IT TOO HIM.. I HAD FORGOTTEN TO TELL MY PROBLEM HOW BIG MY GOD WAS.... THE BUDGET WAR WAS OVER WITH THE USUAL SONG AND DANCE IN WASHINGTON AND AFTER 5 TRIPS TO THE US EMBASSY FOR THE RECORD "IT USUALLY ONLY TAKES 2"  BUT THE OTHER 3 I GUESS WAS GODS HUMOR IN IT..WE WERE GONE OUT OF THE UKRAINE ON THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY..14 HOUR PLANE TRIP I WAS IN THE GREAT STATE OF GEORGIA..

 

OUR KLAN IS FINE WE HAVE BEEN HOME FOR 22 DAYS AND WE HAVE BEEN AS I WOULD LIKE TO CALL A FULL "BLENDER"  YOU KNOW HOW WHEN YOU PUT TOO MUCH MILK AND ICECREAM IN A BLENDER YOU KNOW WHEN YOU MASH THE BUTTON ITS GONNA GO EVERY WHERE WELL THATS US   WE ARE FULL AND I SOMETIMES THINK THE DEVIL HAS HIS FINGER ON THE BUTTON READY TO MASH IT... GIVE A LITTLE MORE TIME WE WILL BE READY FOR THE SPIN CYCLE.. TODAY GAGE AND ABBIE BOTH STARTED SCHOOL AND THEY CLAIM TO HAVE HAD A GOOD DAY.. WE SHALL SEE ABOUT THIS SCHOOL THING MY HOPE IS THAT THEY WILL FIND SCHOOL; TO BE FUN AND WANT TOO LEARN..

 

SO IF YOU HAVE READ THIS MUCH THEN I FEEl SURE YOU READ TO THE BOTTOM  HERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME I HAVE HEARD FROM FRIENDS, SOME I READ FROM SOMEONES BLOG, SOME I HONESTLY DONT REMEMBER WHY I HAVE IT IN MY HEAD BUT ITS GOTTA COME OUT.:: PS. SORRY FOR ANY RAMBLING

 

THIS IS WHAT KEEPS COMING THRU MY MIND THE MOST::

 

"THERE ARE NO BAD CHILDREN ONLY UNPREPARED PARENTS"

 

I CAN'T CHANGE THE WORLD BUT I CAN CHANGE THE WORLD OF A CHILD..

 

IT'S TIME WE STOP PUTTING PICTURES OF ORPHANS ON OUR REFRIGERATORS AND START FEEDING ORPHANS OUT OF OUR REFRIDGERATORS....

 

 

 I left a lot of kids back at the orphanage wondering why they weren't chosen. Wondering if someone would pursue them and pay the price in so many ways they aren't even aware of.  I do know that taking care of the defenseless and those who find themselves in places and situations outside of their control is NOT a calling it has the tone and tenor of a command. Anyone who thinks that we, as Christians are called to affluent lifestyles and that God simply wouldn't want that for them is a fool. Those who feel the least qualified(me)need to do this. Don't be a member of the "Pansy Christian" crew. God has no use for those who cloak themselves in comfort and buy in to the notion, "You're Best Life Now". That view of the Christian life is nothing short of a load of false teaching crap! What about the best life now for those who are in the greatest need? Trust me; if you're one of those who have the lifestyle of home ownership, good job, great kids, way to many gadgets, comfort beyond description, routines that cannot be altered and are making you feel safe-you ARE thee very ones who need to get out of the rut, take a chance, walk in faith and make a difference. Don't be the servant who buried the talent. Again, God has NO USE for inaction, none!!!!!! It's NOT a ticket to heaven, it's a ticket to a deeper, closer relationship and understanding of Gods will.

GOD DOESN'T CALL THE QUALIFIED,HE QUALIFIES THE CALLED...IS HE CALLING YOU?  ARE YOU WORRIED YOU CANT HANDLE IT?  YOU CAN'T... BUT HE CAN IF HE'S CALLED YOU TO IT!!!!!!!!!  

 

I AM OUTTA HERE AFTER THIS ONE...ONE DAY WE MUST ALL STAND BEFORE GOD AND HAVE TO ANSWER NOT FOR OUR SINS "THEY ARE FORGIVEN" BUT FOR WHAT WE HAVE DONE OR NOT DONE...

 

THE GRASS CAN'T GET NO GREENER ,,AND LIFE CANT GET NO SWEETER!!!!!

 

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR PRAYER,LOVE AND SUPPORT   THE GURLEYS

welcome home!!!

FROM A THOUGHT TO A BLOG

FROM A FOG TO A BLOG

HEY I GUESS YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ME IN A FEW DAYS WELL THERE IS ABOUT
7,465,893 REASONS WHY YOU HAVEN'T.. I GOT TIME HOW MANY WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR..
BUT WE WILL KEEP IT POSITIVE..FOR TODAY A VERY SHORT STORY THE VERY NICE AND
SWEAT LADY THAT WAS TRYING TO HELP ME YESTERDAY AT THE US. EMBASSY TOLD ME THAT
I WAS "A TYPICAL MALE ADOPTIVE PARENT,,BUT THAT I WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BETTER
ONES". I HAD ALL MY PAPER WORK FILLED OUT CORRECT EXCEPT ONE LINE ON ONE FORM..
IF ANYONE THAT READS THIS THAT'S BEEN THROUGH A ADOPTION PROCESS YOU KNOW WHAT
IT'S LIKE..WE STILL HAVE SOME ISSUES TO DEAL WITH MONDAY WHEN WE GET BACK TO THE
EMBASSY BUT I KNOW GOD HAS BROUGHT ME THIS FAR HE WON'T LEAVE ME IN A TIME OF
NEED.  I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN GOING THRU A TEST WITH THAT GOSH AWFULL WORD 
"PATIENCE"  AGAIN.. BUT I HAVE BEEN SCREAMING HEY YOU HAVE MY ATTENTION NOW GOD
I GOT THIS PATIENCE THING DOWN..  LETS GO.  BUT I KNOW WE ARE ON GODS TIME AND
SURLEY NOT ON MIKE GURLEYS TIME CLOCK..  IT WILL HUMBLE THE BEST OF A  PERSON
THAT LOVES TO BE IN CONTROL,,FIX IT PERSON LIKE ME TO PUT YOUR FAITH IN HIS
HANDS AND GIVE IT ALL TOO HIM.. THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES I COULD TELL THAT
WOULD BOGGLE YOUR MIND.. BUT GOD WILL ALWAYS BE ENOUGH TOO KEEP MOVING
FOWARD...TODAY IS SATURDAY THE WEATHER IS GONNA BE 35 // 40 degrees 25mph WINDS
SO WE HAVE BOUGHT A WHOLE CHICKEN. USED THE BREAST THAT I BONNED OUT LAST NIGHT
WITH SOME DUMPLINGS NOT WHAT YOU ARE THINKING,, GONA USE THE OTHER PARTS TODAY
AND MAKE SOME CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP.   TODAY IS GONNA BE A GOOD DAY.. FOR ALL OF
THOOSE LIL AMERICANS THAT THINK YOU CAN PLAY UNO. I HAVE TWO THAT HAVE COME UP
WITH WAYS THAT WILL REALLY BOGGLE YOUR MIND ON HOW TO CHEAT I MEAN PLAY THE
GAME.. ALL I CAN SAY BRING YOUR MONEY LEAVE YOUR POCKET KNIFE AT THE DOOR AND
COME PREPARED TO LOSE,AND GET YOUR FEELINGS HURT..WE LOVE Y'ALL AND MISS Y'ALL
WE HOPE TO BE HOME BY FALL MIKE,TOM,ABBIE,GAGE

THE ANGEL FETCHED PETER OUT OF PRISON, BUT IT WAS PRAYER THAT FETCHED THE
ANGELS..       ~THOMAS WATSON

Mike,Abbie,& Gage

SOME THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED...

WELL BY NOW YOU MAY BE THINKING WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING?  WELL PRETTY MUCH AFTER THAT WIRLWIND OF A TRAIN RIDE WE HAVE TAKEN IT EASY TODAY PRETTY MUCH. BUT HERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WE AND I UNDERLINE WE HAVE LEARNED.. AS MY PREVIOUS BLOG HAD MENTION WHEN I THRU TOM OUT AT THE HOME THEY WERE GOING THRU THE SUITCASE THAT LEEANN HAD PACKED FOR THEM..ABBIE PULL OUT THIS BOTTLE OF SPRAY AND IN HER VERY CHEERFULL MANNER ASK TOM WITH ALL ALL HAND MOTIONS WITH THE BOTTLE OF SPRAY WHETHER IT WENT UNDER THE ARM OR IN HER MOUTH. SHE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW i THINK ITWAS BODY SPRAY.. #2 FOUR PEOPLE CAN GET INTO AND RIDE FOR A HOUR AND HALF IN THE BACK OF A LIL FORD FOCUS AND STILL BE FRIENDS.. #3 WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE are NOT ONLY BACON CHIPS BUT ALSO CRAB,CALAMARI, TO ME IT TASTE LIKE THEY SWEPT THE FLOOR OF THESE PLACES AND USED IT FOR FLAVORING.. #4.WE LEARNED THAT IF YOU GIVE A TEN YEAR OLD BENADRYL FOR A OVER NIGHT TRAIN RIDE THAT IT DOES THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT IT DOES TO AMERICAN CHILDREN YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF WAKING UP AT ONE AM TO SEE HIM STANDING UP ON THE TABLE CLOSSING THE BLINDS SO HE CAN CHANGE FROM PJS TO HIS DAYTIME CLOTHES. #5..WE FOUND OUT THAT HAND SANITIZES DOESN'T HURT YOU IF YOU USE IT FOR MOUTH WASH.. #6..WE FOUND OUT IF YOU TALK TO THE NON FRIENDLY CASHIERS IN SPANISH IT REALLY DOES MESS THEM UP. AND THEY STILL WON'T SMILE. #7..WE FOUND OUT THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO EXTRA PEOPLE. THAT IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN TOTE A SUITCASE FOR YOU, TRY PUTTING ON A 25lb BACKBACK ON A NEW CHILD AND THEY THINK YOU ARE TRYING TO KILL THEM.. #8..WE FOUND OUT THAT EVEN IF YOU HAVE TWO CHILDREN, DON'T THINK THEY CAN WALK VERY FAR. WE WALKED,, NOW, TWO WORE OUT, BAD BACK, BAD KNEE, OLD MEN WALKED DOWN TO THE RIVER, ONLY ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF. BUT BY THE TIME WE STARTED TO GO BACK MAN YOU WOULD OF THOUGHT THE KIDS HAD RAN TWO MARATHONS IN A ROW.. THEY WALKED RIGHT BY ICE CREAM AND DIDN'T WANT ANY.. #9..WE LEARNED THAT IF YOU PUT TWO PRETTY GIRLS ON SKYPE IN FRONT OF A TEN YEAR OLD THAT ALL HE CAN DO IS LAUGH IN A VERY FUNNY WAY.. #10..WE HAVE LEARNED TODAY THAT IF YOU GIVE  TWO OLD MEN ALL DAY TO WASH A LOAD OF CLOTHES IT'S FASTER  TO USE A BATHTUB TO WASH THEM.. TRUE STORY WE HAVE DOWN LOADED THE MANUAL FOR THE WASHER AFTER HAVING TO TRANSLATE IT. AND WE STILL CAN'T GET THE THING TO WASH SO BATHTUB IT IS.. WE WILL TRY SHOWERING WITH OUR CLOTHES ON TO SEE IF IT'S FASTER TOMORROW.. #11 WE HAVE LEARNED TO SAY AMEN AFTER WE PRAY... TOMMOROW IS ANOTHER DAY WE HAVE PLANS TO GO TO THE DREAM MALL AND WALK AROUND BUT IT'S ABOUT A MILE WALK I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE GONNA BE UP FOR IT BUT WE SHALL TRY..MAYBE MY DAY WILL BE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN WITH A PHONE CALL SAYING THE PASSPORTS ARE READY AND WE NEED TO GO GET THEM AND THEN GO START WITH THE US.EMBASSEY...WE ARE GONNA KEEP ON KEEPING ON AND HAVE SOME FUN.. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS..MIKE,TOM,ABBIE,GAGE

kicking my dear friend under the bus

IF YOU DIDN'T READ MY BLOG FROM EARLIER TODAY JUST READ THIS PART. .WE HOPE BY THE END OF THE DAY WE WILL HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TO REPORT ON EVERYTHING... BUT WHILE WE ARE WAITING I KNOW GOD HAS A PLAN AND I AM WILLING TO FOLLOW IT..THIS JOURNEY HAS BEEN A TRUE TEST OF PATIENCE AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW IT TO THE END... Proverbs 16: 4 the lord works out everything for his own ends. HERE GOES THAT LIL WORD PATIENCE AGAIN. WHEN WE GOT OFF THE TRAIN WE SCREAMED TO MARIUPOL AT ABOUT 80 MILES AN HOUR. COME INTO TOWN AND GOT DROPPED OFF SAID WAIT HERE WE WILL NE BACK IN A HOUR MAYBE TWO. WELL AS WE WERE SITTING DOWN FOR LUNCH 5 1/2 HOURS LATER WE WERE SCREAMING AROUND TOWN .RUNNING IN THIS BUILDING THEN THE NEXT. WE WERE GOING BY THE HOME TO TAKE A PASSPORT PICTURE. NEXT THING YOU KNOW MY FRIEND SAYS LET'S GO AND WE LEAVE TOM THAT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE CHILDREN ALL OF ABOUT THREE MINUTES. WE RUN OUT THE DOOR TO DO SOME MORE PAPER WORK. I HAVE TO EMAIL TOM AND TELL HIM TO PUT SOME CLOTHES ON THEM AND IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE.. SO AFTER DOING THE NEXT BIT OF PAPER WORK WE GET BACK TO THE HOME.. AND I WAS THERE FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES. IN WHICH I WAS SIGNING MORE PAPER WORK.. THEN WE HAVE THAT HOUR AND A HALF RIDE BACK TO THE OTHER TOWN TO GET PASSPORT INFO. FILED WE HAD TOO CALL AHEAD BEG BEG AND BEG SOME MORE FOR THEM TO WAIT ON US. SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN THAT TOWN.. SO WE MAKE IT IN TIME GET THE PAPERS DONE AND WE FIND THE FRONT DOOR LOCKED WE ARE LOCKED IN THIS GOVERNMENT BUILDING.. WE FOUND SOMEONE THAT WAS CLEANING THE BUILDING TO HELP US GET OUT.. THEN WE HAVE A TWENTY MINUTE RIDE TO THE TRAIN STATION THAT THE TRAIN LEAVES IN THIRTY MINUTES..WOW I JUMP OUT THE FRONT DOOR SEND TOM AND KIDS AROUND BACK I GO GET THE TICKETS. SWING BACK TO GO FIND THEM GO BY THIS PLACE THAT I USALLY WOULDN'T EAT AT FOUND FOUR PIECES OF THIS PIZZA LIKE SUBSTANCE COLD DIFFERENT FOUR BOTTLES OF WATER AND MY CHILDREN'S FIRST MEAL WAS TOGETHER .. WE GOT INTO THE TRAIN CAR GOT SETTLED AND ALL SAT TOGETHER AND PRAYED HOLDING HANDS THANKING GOD FOR ALL HE HAS DONE..I HAVE TRAVELED ALMOST SIX THOUSAND MILES TO GET THEM AND NOTHING HAS BEEN TO PLANS TODAY..I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD TURN OUT LIKE THIS BUT "GOD KNOWS". IF I WOULD OF HAD A HOUR TO TELL ALL OF THOSE OTHER CHILDREN GOODBYE I LITERALLY THINK I WOULD OF HAD A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK. I DON'T THINK I WOULD OF EVER BEEN ABLE TO WALK OUT WITH MY OWN POWER.. GOD KNOWS WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO AND I THANK HIM MUCH FOR THAT.. PS. WATCH OUT KIEV WE GONNA BUST THAT TOWN WIDE OPEN TOMMOROW.. THANKS MIKE,TOM,ABBIE,GAGE Have a wonderful day. And GOD bless

april 2nd &3rd

As I SIT ON A PLANE GOING BACK ACROSS THE BIG POND. ONE MORE TIME I WOULD LIKe
TO SAY THANKS ONE MORE TIME FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS HELPED ME MAKE IT THIS FAR
FROM THE PERSON WHO HAD THE SMALLEST PART TO THE BIGGEST PART IN THIS JOURNEY..
SOME TIMES IT'S BEEN HARD TO STOP AND SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE
DONE..ITS BEEN A WONDERFUL JOURNEY SO FAR AND I KNOW WITH GODS HANDS IN THE
MIDDLE OF THIS IT'S GONNA BE FINE.

ITS NOW MONDAY MORNING I NOW SIT IN DOWNTOWN MARIUPOL AND GUESS WHAT I AM
DOING. YOU GOT IT WAITING. WE HAD A PRETTY MUCH UN-eventful TRIP SO FAR THE
TRAIN RIDE LAST NIGHT WASN'T HOT THANKS TO THE WOOL BLANKETS PACKED ON TOP OF
THE HEATER MADE IT AT LEAST WARM AND NOT HOT.. SUPPER LAST NIGHT WAS A LOAF OF
BREAD NOT SLICED AND SOME SORT OF SMOKED SAUSAGE AND PRETZELS.. I MADE SURE
LAST TRIP THAT MY BRIDE GOT TO EAT GOOD.. BUT MY DEAR FRIEND TOM MAY LOOSE SOME
WEIGHT IF THIS KEEPS UP..

JUST AS WE GOT INTO THE TRAIN LAST NIGHT MY LAWYER FRIEND LOOKED AT MY PAPER
WORK THAT I BROUGHT AND SAID THAT I WAS MISSING A PAGE... WELL GUESS HOW MUCH
SLEEP AFTER THAT COMMENT..NOT MUCH!!!! SO THIS MORNING THE US EMBASY WILL GET A
CALL ON DO WE REALLY NEED THAT LETTER OR NOT... MY PRAYER IS THAT WE WILL BE
OK.. BUT IN THE MEAN TIME WE ARE LOOKING FOR A WOMAN THAT LOOKS LIKE LEEANN SOO
THEY CAN GO SIGN THIS PAPER WITH ME... THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT THERE NOT ANY
IN THE UKRAINE THAT GOOD LOOKING BUT WE WILL TRY..

WE HOPE BY THE END OF THE DAY WE WILL HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TO REPORT ON
EVERYTHING... BUT WHILE WE ARE WAITING I KNOW GOD HAS A PLAN AND I AM WILLING TO
FOLLOW IT..THIS JOURNEY HAS BEEN A TRUE TEST OF PATIENCE AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO
FOLLOW IT TO THE END...

Proverbs 16: 4 the lord works out everything for his own ends.




Have a wonderful day. And GOD bless

ON YOUR MARK !!!!!!

ARE YOU READY WELL ITS TIME TO GO AND GET MY BABIES I WILL BE LEAVING PUMKIN CENTER GA. SATURDAY MORNING.. CAN ANYONE SAY HOOORAAAAYYYYYYY...   I PROMISE NO MORE HALF HEARTED BLOGS THIS TIME. I PLAN TO HAVE JUST AS MUCH FUN AS I CAN POSSIBLE HAVE ON THIS TRIP. I CANT WAIT TOO SEE THEM..  IT S UP TO MY FRIEND ACROSS THE POND FOR MY NEXT POST.... THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS..