AS PROMISED THE YAHOO PART SATURDAY WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO THE CHILDRENS HOME AND SEE OUR CHILDREN WHAT A BLESSING CAN I SAY IT WAS GREAT,EMOTINAL,CRAZY,FUN ALL ROLLED UP IN ONE. WE SAT THERE GIGGLIE LIKE SOME TEENAGERS THAT DIDNT KNOW HOW TO TALK. IT WAS REALLY KINDA FUNNY. WE ARE PLANNING TODAY TO GO BACK BUT NOT SURE FOR HOW LONG TODAY... WE SHOWED UP ON A SATURDAY, AMERICA A SATURDAY AND BECAUSE LAST MONDAY WAS A HOLIDAY "WOMENS DAY" THEY HAD TO WORK ON SATURDAY TOMAKE UP FOR THAT COULDNT WE LEARN FROM THAT????????????
TRAVEL TIPS:::::::::::::
#1 PACK UR BAGS THEN TAKE AT LEAST HALF OF IT OUT.
#2 DONT BRING A HAIRDRYER IT EATS AMERICAN ONES
#3 BRING TWO LAPTOPS SO YOU DONT HAVE TO SHARE.
#4 GO BACK TOO YOUR LUGAGE AND TAKE SOME MORE OUT.
PATIENCESS
FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN MY LIFE WELL REALLY ALL OF MY LIFE THAT I CANREMEMBER I HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH THE PATIENCE OF A FLY AND THAT I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY WITH THAT.THAT WAS PROABLY TRUE IN MY EYES BUT NOT IN GOD'S EYES. I MUST HAVE BEEN VERY WRONG ABOUT THIS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING ALL MY LIFE TO BE INCONTROL BUT GOD HAS BEEN THE WHO NEEDED TO BE IN CONTROL. ITS LIKE ALL MY LIFE GOD HAS BEEN LETTING ME "TAKE THE LINE" IN LIFE AND WHEN IT CAME TO THIS CHAPTER IN MY LIFE HE HAS SET THE "HOOK" SOO HARD HE HAS MY FULL ATTENTION NOW. MY PATIENCE LEVEL HAS BEEN DROPT ON ITS UGLY HEAD 4,678,264 TIMES DURING THIS PROCCESS BUT WHOIS COUNTING ANYWAY. FROM RAIN DELAYS,SENT AROUND THE STATE OF GEORGIA FOR FINGER PRINTS,I HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED BY A PARTIME PERSON WITH HOMELAND SECURITY DEPT WITH NO PHONE OR E-MAIL "TRUE" I HAV BEEN SENT TO ATLANTA 2.5 HOUR THERE AND 2.5 HOUR BACK WITH A PIECE OF PAPER WITH "A" SINGULAR WORD BEING WRONG ONLY TO HAVE TO GO BACK THE NEXT DAY. I EVEN HAD TO REMODLE CLOSETS SO THE KIDS COULD HAVE SOMEWHERE TO PUT THINGS.... YEA I KNOW IT WAS A LEEANNS IDEA THAT GOT OUT OF CONTROL ON THIS ONE. PS.DONT EVER HAVE A CABINET MAKER FRIEND TELL YOUR WIFE "YOUR WISH IS MY COMAND" SCREAM OUT LOUD AT THIS ONE......IN THE END IT TURNED OUT GREAT....THEN AS YOU MAY WELL KNOW I GOT A CALL FROM DAVID WHO BY THE WAY HAS DONE A GREAT JOB FOR ME AND LEEANN SO FAR "DONT DROP THE BALL NOW DAVID" AT 2:15 MY HEART SANK WHEN I SAW HIS NAME THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT ABOUT WAS MY BRIDE WAS SHE GOING TO BE HEART BROKEN AT THIS CALL BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER MONTH......THEN I ANSWERED DAVID SAID WE HAVE TO BE THERE NEXT THURSDAY............... I HAD TO SIT DOWN MY KNEES WERE SHAKING MY HEART HIT THE FLOOR IT WAS LIKE OHHH NOOOOO I HAD A MOMENT WITH MY LIFE FLASHING THRU MY HEAD..... I MUST LOOKED BAD BECAUSE JUSTIN LOOKED AT ME AND ASKED IF I WAS OK..I POINTED TO THE CALENDER TO THE NEXT THURS THEN MY REPLACEMENT "JUSTIN" HAD A LOOK OF OH NO. I HUNG UP FROM DAVID I HAD HEARD EVERYTHING I WANTED FROM HIM I CALLED LEEANN WE LAUGHED,CRIED,SHOUTED FOR JOY THEN REALIZED IT TAKES A FULL DAY TO GET HERE,TIME DIFFERANCE,AND SOME BUILT IN TIME FORTHE UN-SEEN WOW!!!1 WE GOTTA LEAVE MONDAY NO AIRLINE TICKETS,NO TELLING CUSTOMERS AKA LEEANNS FRIENDS SHE WASNT GOING TO BE THERE NO GETTING THING READY AT THE STORE. NO PLANNING FOR MR. CARSON GURLEY.. CAN YOU SAY WIRLWIND....NOW MY PATIENCE ARE REALLY GOING TO BE TESTED.. SO WE TRAVEL REPORT ON THAT LATER AKA CHAPTER#3 AS YOU MAY TELL I DONT US SPELL CHECK WHEN I CLICK ON IT IT LOOKS LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
how a deer horn changed my life
How a calcium deposit has changed my life
Well I have been thinking about this for a while so here goes.have you ever
stopped and think about the what if's in life my journey starts a long time ago
with a child growing up loving hunting.that's right justin WE HAD A DEAL IN
SCHOOL FOR HIS GRADUATION TRIP TO GO HUNTING OUT OF TOWN TO KILL A NICE DEER. SO
TIME CAME AND ME JUSTIN,STEVIE,CAL,AND PAT TOOK A TRIP TO OHIO LONG RIDE WITH 3
Boys. We were rewarding these boys with A trip for making Good choices In LIFE
Good School work and graduation. Little that I know GOD was doing his handy work
on me. We meet a man soft spoken,very mild manner,loved too sleep even in the
deer stand. AKA.RUSS SR. HE MADE A IMPRESSION ON ME THAT LASTED. We had a blast the boys got what the came after we came home. My
younger son Carson who is 15 now began too bug me a couple of years later about
going hunting like his big brother got to do so we used the idea for a Christmas
present. And we set off for tyrone Penn had a blast had fun with the walk family
it felt like we were among family. Well A YEAR OR SO LATER one morning I opened my email it
was a letter from mrs.Lori walk she was sending out a Email looking for support
for a hosting camp for some children who needed a family. I can remember
sitting on that wooden stool at work thinking GOD what is this a test? I
thought to myself ok LORD I am in. immediately i sent back a email saying to
Lori I will send a donation to help and asked her what else she needed. She said
she also needed some volunteers to work in the camp. Here was another test.
Once again LORD I am in. Short story Hannah my oldest daughter was in school for
teaching and she got the call to go and help in the camp and the rest is history
for her part. Back up on the blog and read her story she says it better than I
ever could.....I had several things that really tested my faith in GOD in the
time leading up to camp. Camp had to be some of the best time I have ever had in
my life. You never know how much fun picking up trash,pouring
koolaid,making scrapbooks,playing catch,roasting marshmellows emptying trash
cans could ever be before you stop to think that are your truly are doing it
to be making a change in a hopeless lives. But as my
friend "father ---------- ". Said while we were at camp if we did nothing else
we have.
#1.We have changed their lives forever.
#2.we gave the hope.
#3.we gave them reason.
#4.we showed them someone loves them.
#5.we gave them the gospel. Jesus will save them!!!!!!!!
That has to be one of the most powerful things that I have ever heard.
We as Americans especially our children are so far as I am concerned have got to
be the most ungrateful bunch of people anywhere. We did nothing more than have a
little "well planed" mrs.lori week long camp. Nothing more nothing less. And
look at 1 thru 5 again..............
If we had done this for our kids they would complain about the flavor of koolaid
or something.
As camp was going on the entire walk family and there was a lot of the kept
asking me who I was gonna take home. My answer keep on being the same I am here
to work not pick out a child. I tried from the first second I laid MY EYES ON THE KIDS NOT TO THINK
ABOUT THAT PUT GOD IN CONTROL AND TO DO WHAT I AS SENT FOR. I KEEP ON TELLING FOLKS THAT GOD HADNT PUT A CHILD IN MY HEART AT THAT TIME.THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE WHO GOT TO WITNESS GOD SHOWING UP AND SHOWING OUT IN THE DINE ING TABLE THAT NIGHT. HOW HE PUT EVERYTHING IN PLACE WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME EVEN STARTED YEARS AGO FOR A GREAT SON. MY WIFE AT HOME 700 MILES AWAY THAT SENT ME A TEXT MESSAGE ASKING HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO MAKEA DIFFERANCE IN A CHILDS LIFE. ITS FUNNY HERE I SIT IN A TRAIN CAR 9 HOURSINTO A 12 HOUR RIDE AND PEOPLE SAY GOD DOESNT HAVE A SENCE OF HUMOR. I WILL NEVER FORGET MRS.LORIS ASKING VIKA IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO COME HOME WITH ME AND HANNAH. IF I LIVE ANOTHER 100 YEARS I DONT BELIEVE IT COULD EVER BE DUPLICATED. BEFORE I HAD KNEW ITI WAS GOING HOME WITH VIKA AND HER LITTLE BROTHER SLAVIK. I THEN HAD TOO TELL LEEANN WHAT I HAVE DONE. WHEN I CALLED THE NEXT MORNING TO TELLHER SHE WAS OVER JOYED..THANK GOD BECAUSE THERE WASNT A DROP OF FIGHT LEFT IN ME AT THIS POINT..... OK CHAPTER TO TO COME IN A DAY OR TWO LOVE MIKE AND LEEANN
Well I have been thinking about this for a while so here goes.have you ever
stopped and think about the what if's in life my journey starts a long time ago
with a child growing up loving hunting.that's right justin WE HAD A DEAL IN
SCHOOL FOR HIS GRADUATION TRIP TO GO HUNTING OUT OF TOWN TO KILL A NICE DEER. SO
TIME CAME AND ME JUSTIN,STEVIE,CAL,AND PAT TOOK A TRIP TO OHIO LONG RIDE WITH 3
Boys. We were rewarding these boys with A trip for making Good choices In LIFE
Good School work and graduation. Little that I know GOD was doing his handy work
on me. We meet a man soft spoken,very mild manner,loved too sleep even in the
deer stand. AKA.RUSS SR. HE MADE A IMPRESSION ON ME THAT LASTED. We had a blast the boys got what the came after we came home. My
younger son Carson who is 15 now began too bug me a couple of years later about
going hunting like his big brother got to do so we used the idea for a Christmas
present. And we set off for tyrone Penn had a blast had fun with the walk family
it felt like we were among family. Well A YEAR OR SO LATER one morning I opened my email it
was a letter from mrs.Lori walk she was sending out a Email looking for support
for a hosting camp for some children who needed a family. I can remember
sitting on that wooden stool at work thinking GOD what is this a test? I
thought to myself ok LORD I am in. immediately i sent back a email saying to
Lori I will send a donation to help and asked her what else she needed. She said
she also needed some volunteers to work in the camp. Here was another test.
Once again LORD I am in. Short story Hannah my oldest daughter was in school for
teaching and she got the call to go and help in the camp and the rest is history
for her part. Back up on the blog and read her story she says it better than I
ever could.....I had several things that really tested my faith in GOD in the
time leading up to camp. Camp had to be some of the best time I have ever had in
my life. You never know how much fun picking up trash,pouring
koolaid,making scrapbooks,playing catch,roasting marshmellows emptying trash
cans could ever be before you stop to think that are your truly are doing it
to be making a change in a hopeless lives. But as my
friend "father ---------- ". Said while we were at camp if we did nothing else
we have.
#1.We have changed their lives forever.
#2.we gave the hope.
#3.we gave them reason.
#4.we showed them someone loves them.
#5.we gave them the gospel. Jesus will save them!!!!!!!!
That has to be one of the most powerful things that I have ever heard.
We as Americans especially our children are so far as I am concerned have got to
be the most ungrateful bunch of people anywhere. We did nothing more than have a
little "well planed" mrs.lori week long camp. Nothing more nothing less. And
look at 1 thru 5 again..............
If we had done this for our kids they would complain about the flavor of koolaid
or something.
As camp was going on the entire walk family and there was a lot of the kept
asking me who I was gonna take home. My answer keep on being the same I am here
to work not pick out a child. I tried from the first second I laid MY EYES ON THE KIDS NOT TO THINK
ABOUT THAT PUT GOD IN CONTROL AND TO DO WHAT I AS SENT FOR. I KEEP ON TELLING FOLKS THAT GOD HADNT PUT A CHILD IN MY HEART AT THAT TIME.THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE WHO GOT TO WITNESS GOD SHOWING UP AND SHOWING OUT IN THE DINE ING TABLE THAT NIGHT. HOW HE PUT EVERYTHING IN PLACE WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME EVEN STARTED YEARS AGO FOR A GREAT SON. MY WIFE AT HOME 700 MILES AWAY THAT SENT ME A TEXT MESSAGE ASKING HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO MAKEA DIFFERANCE IN A CHILDS LIFE. ITS FUNNY HERE I SIT IN A TRAIN CAR 9 HOURSINTO A 12 HOUR RIDE AND PEOPLE SAY GOD DOESNT HAVE A SENCE OF HUMOR. I WILL NEVER FORGET MRS.LORIS ASKING VIKA IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO COME HOME WITH ME AND HANNAH. IF I LIVE ANOTHER 100 YEARS I DONT BELIEVE IT COULD EVER BE DUPLICATED. BEFORE I HAD KNEW ITI WAS GOING HOME WITH VIKA AND HER LITTLE BROTHER SLAVIK. I THEN HAD TOO TELL LEEANN WHAT I HAVE DONE. WHEN I CALLED THE NEXT MORNING TO TELLHER SHE WAS OVER JOYED..THANK GOD BECAUSE THERE WASNT A DROP OF FIGHT LEFT IN ME AT THIS POINT..... OK CHAPTER TO TO COME IN A DAY OR TWO LOVE MIKE AND LEEANN
Thursday, March 10, 2011
today we have our 1st sda appointment
WELL WE ARE SITTING IN THE VAN WAITING ON SOMETHING WHAT? I DONT KNOW I WAS JUST TOLD TO SIT HERE SO I SAID DA.OUR SDA APPOINTMENT WENT WELL AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED WE SAT DOWN SAID A FEW WORDS SHE PULLED OUT OUR FILE BY NOW IT HAS GROWN TO AT LEAST 4 INCHES THICK BY NOW. THERE WAS SOME EXCHANGE OF WORDS ABOUT THE NAMES ALOT OF HEAD SHAKING AND THEN I SAW THE PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!OH NO THEY GOT THE WRONG KIDS IN OUR FOLDER TALK ABOUT A OH NO. MY HEART FELL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HALLWAY 2 FLIGHTS DOWN ALL THAT WENT THROUGH MY MIND WAS THIS AINT GONNA BE GOOD DELAYS,MORE PAPERWORK,MORE WAITING ON THE "ISLAND TIME CLOCK" IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.THEN I CLOSED MY EYES AND SAID "HEY LORD I COULD USE ONE RIGHT HERE THIS AINT LOOKING GOOD" I LOOKED AT MY HELPER HE HAD A LOOK THAT I DIDNT LIKE. THE LADY GOT UP LEFT THE ROOM WENT DOWN THE HALL FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE IT TOOK FOREVER. MY HELPER WHICH HAS TRAVELED WITH ME BEFORE IN THE STATES SAID TO ME YOUR BEING REALLY QUIET I TOLD HIM YOU TOLD ME NOT TO SAY ANYMORE THAN I HAD TOO.HIS REPLY WAS "SILENCE IS GOLDEN" I SAID "YOUR IN TROUBLE BECAUSE "I AM DIRT IN THAT REGARD" ITS BEEN ALL I COULD DO TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT.OUR LADY CAME BACK INTO THE OFFICE WITH ANOTHER FILE.YOU GOT IT THE CORRECT ONE OUR CHILDREN AND ALL. YAHOOOOOOOO THANK YOU LORD. THERE WAS SOME TALK BETWEEN US ABOUT THE CHILDREN SHE ASKED IF WE HAVE CHANGED OUR MIND I SAID NO MAM WITH A SMILE. NO INTERPRETOR NEEDED SHE SMILED BACK AND FILLED OUT SOME PAPERS HAD US TO SIGN TOLD ME TO BE BACK TOMMOROW TO PICK IT UP. WE ARE NOW TRYING TO GET OUR TRAIN TICKETS TO TRAVEL TO THE REGION FRIDAY NIGHT. i just got my internet connection back for the day 8 hours of no internet makes a long day..thanks for prayers.....mike and leeann
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
WELL AFTER A VERY UN-EVENT FULL TRIP. I CANT BELIEVE I WENT THROUGH THE AIRPORT SECURITY TWICE AND NO PAT-DOWN THIS IS A RECORD FOR ME. THANK GOD WE HAVE MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO OUR APARTMENT WE WILL BE AT FOR A FEW DAYS IN KRIOV WE HAVE OUR SDA APPOINTMENT IN THE MORNING THURSDAY THE 10TH. WE SHOULD GET PERMISSION TO TRAVEL TO THE REGION ON FRIDAY TO SEE THE KIDS. WE WILL HAVE A 12 HOUR TRAIN RIDE THAT I CANT WAIT TO SEE IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST.I AINT BEEN ON A TRAIN SINCE I WAS IN THIRD GRADE. I BET THEY DON'T EVEN USE COAL ANYMORE. WE ARE NOT SURE ABOUT INTERNET CONNECTION BUT FOR NOW WE HAVE IT.THIS MODERN TECH STUFF IS GREAT WE WERE ABLE TO SKYPE HOME LAST NIGHT I DONT KNOW WHAT I WOULD OF DONE IF MOMA HEN COULDN'T HAVE SEEN HER CHIC'S I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO WRITE A STORY ON THE BLOG FOR A WHILE I HAVE IT WRITTEN ON PAPER FOR THE MOST PART SO IN THE COMMING DAYS WHEN I FIGURE ALL THIS OUT I WILL GET IT POSTED SO STAY CHECKED IN..I WANA SAY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HADE A PART IN THIS FROM OUR FAMILY WHO SUPPORTS US WITH OUR DECISION TO ADDOPT,TO MY HELP AT THE STORE WHO IS WILLING TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF MY BUSINESS LIKE ITS THEIR OWN,TO MY FRIENDS WHO ARE GONNA GET MAD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET TO DO ANYTHING BUT WERE 100% WILLING TOO,TO ALL OF LEEANNS FRIENDS WHO WERE 100% WILLING TO HAVE THEIR ROOTS SHOWING FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER,TO OUR CHURCH FAMILY WHO HAS BEEN PRAYING FOR US. AND ALL OF THE POOR FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE LIST TO HELP WITH CARSON HIS MOMA REALLY REALLY APPRECIATES IT,AND LAST BUT NOT AT ALL THE LEAST JUSTIN DONT LET THE MONSTER GET YOU YOU GET IT FIRST AND HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT. ALL WE CAN SAY IS THANKS NO YOU HAVE NOT TRAVELED HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD TO CHANGE THE WORLD IN THE LIVES OF TWO CHILDREN BUT YOU HAVE DONE YOUR PART AND FOR THAT I AM TRUELY GRATEFUL. GOD DIDN'T CALL ALL FOR ADOPTION BUT HE HAS CALLED US ALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THANKS AND WE LOVE YOU MIKE
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
True test of faith!
Let me start by saying this is Hannah again. I have been battling myself all day on whether or not I should write this blog. In these past few days I have been filled with so many emotions that I can hardly put into words. When I woke up Sunday morning the realization hit me.....this is it....its finally happening. For the past 7 months I have dreamt about the day my parents would leave to go and pick up the kids. I prepared myself for extra gas money driving the further distance to work, helping Carson with homework, skype conversations with Vika and Sly.....but what I didn't prepare for is the feeling I would have when I said goodbye.
God has been preparing my family for us to have two new children. This past week I have been majorly struggling but I have not wanted to burden my parents or anyone else with all of my thoughts. Two main things have been tugging at my heart, the fact that I let other things keep me from truly praising God for all that I have (especially a new brother and sister) and that I wont be a "good enough" big sister for them.
God has been working in my heart for the past few weeks and dealing with me about my thankfulness or lack there of. Vika and Sly mean the absolute world to me. I am so thankful that God chose my family to be theirs. But at the same time God would constantly question me with "have you truly thanked me?" I have been very selfish. I let the fact that God was dealing with me about certain areas in my life overtake my praise and thankfulness to Him. I can tell you here today that I will spend everyday of the rest of my life thanking God that I was able to be a small part in this entire process. I heard once "When you quit getting thankful for things, you quit getting things!" I pray that God continues to work in my life. I pray that my praise never gets as slack as it has been. I don't deserve to be a part of these kids lives but thank God He is allowing me to be!
Now the next thing has been the hardest thing. Maybe it is God trying to prepare me for the kids or maybe it is me just being emotional, but none the less it has been on my mind. I have been battling with being the "only Jesus people may see!" I want to be the kind of Christian that has people questioning, what does she have? I want people to know that they can come to me, I want people to know that I will pray for them, I want people to know the God that has blessed me so very much. You ask what does this have to do with Vika and Sly? Well recently I have felt like I haven't been the sister that I should have been or should be to any of my brothers. I feel like there have been times that I have failed them and it breaks my heart. I want to make sure that I am the absolute best that I can be for Vika and Sly. They deserve a sister that puts God first, but that puts them second. And here today that is what I promise to be to them. I don't want a second to pass that they feel like they aren't important to me. These two kids have changed my life in a way that I can't put into words. They have showed me a side of life that I didn't know exsisted. They along with the other kids at camp showed me there is more to life than money, school, a boyfriend, and even friends. Since the week I spent with these kids God has done a major work in my life which brings me to my title.
God has proven Himself faithful to me in so many ways. Every time that I have prayed and asked God to comfort me and my family, it was as if I could almost feel His arms around me. Everytime I asked that He could ease my mind of worrying about the kids, He would have me thinking about something else in no time. We prayed for God to quickly let us get our kids and days later my parents were on a plane! God has proven to be my comfort so many more times than I could ever imagine. So today as I rode home from spending time with Carson, Nanny, Luke, and the kids God began to speak to me. He filled me with an assurance like He was saying "I will make sure you are good enough....stay true to me and I will continue to mold you." It was while riding in my car listening to the song He'll Be Enough that I finally gave me every fear, worry, and concern over to the Lord. This verse rings true tonight....."There's no place that I can go that He doesn't know exactly where I'll be....He's always aware of whereever I am and just what I need!"
Praise God I know that He is in Ukraine comforting both my parents and my new siblings! This is just one more time that I know God will show Himself faithful to not only me but my family. I challenge you tonight, whatever you may be facing in your life....thank God for your circumstances and let Him be the amazing Comforter that He has been to me. I promise you the road won't always be easy, but God will bring you through time and time again!
Dad and LeeAnn....I miss you both already! It was so great getting to talk to you today. Tonight we had dinner and spent time playing with the kids. LeeAnn-Brook asked about you quite a few times and I kept telling her "She went to go get Vika and Sly" to that she responded "Vika, Vika, Vika!" Justin was able to come by and spend a few minutes. Dad he says that he will have the computer on in the morning! I love you both so much! I pray constantly for God to keep you safe and to ease your minds. We have this over here just enjoy yourselves there! Remember I couldn't go so you both have to take enough in for me! I love yall and cant wait to skype again!
God has been preparing my family for us to have two new children. This past week I have been majorly struggling but I have not wanted to burden my parents or anyone else with all of my thoughts. Two main things have been tugging at my heart, the fact that I let other things keep me from truly praising God for all that I have (especially a new brother and sister) and that I wont be a "good enough" big sister for them.
God has been working in my heart for the past few weeks and dealing with me about my thankfulness or lack there of. Vika and Sly mean the absolute world to me. I am so thankful that God chose my family to be theirs. But at the same time God would constantly question me with "have you truly thanked me?" I have been very selfish. I let the fact that God was dealing with me about certain areas in my life overtake my praise and thankfulness to Him. I can tell you here today that I will spend everyday of the rest of my life thanking God that I was able to be a small part in this entire process. I heard once "When you quit getting thankful for things, you quit getting things!" I pray that God continues to work in my life. I pray that my praise never gets as slack as it has been. I don't deserve to be a part of these kids lives but thank God He is allowing me to be!
Now the next thing has been the hardest thing. Maybe it is God trying to prepare me for the kids or maybe it is me just being emotional, but none the less it has been on my mind. I have been battling with being the "only Jesus people may see!" I want to be the kind of Christian that has people questioning, what does she have? I want people to know that they can come to me, I want people to know that I will pray for them, I want people to know the God that has blessed me so very much. You ask what does this have to do with Vika and Sly? Well recently I have felt like I haven't been the sister that I should have been or should be to any of my brothers. I feel like there have been times that I have failed them and it breaks my heart. I want to make sure that I am the absolute best that I can be for Vika and Sly. They deserve a sister that puts God first, but that puts them second. And here today that is what I promise to be to them. I don't want a second to pass that they feel like they aren't important to me. These two kids have changed my life in a way that I can't put into words. They have showed me a side of life that I didn't know exsisted. They along with the other kids at camp showed me there is more to life than money, school, a boyfriend, and even friends. Since the week I spent with these kids God has done a major work in my life which brings me to my title.
God has proven Himself faithful to me in so many ways. Every time that I have prayed and asked God to comfort me and my family, it was as if I could almost feel His arms around me. Everytime I asked that He could ease my mind of worrying about the kids, He would have me thinking about something else in no time. We prayed for God to quickly let us get our kids and days later my parents were on a plane! God has proven to be my comfort so many more times than I could ever imagine. So today as I rode home from spending time with Carson, Nanny, Luke, and the kids God began to speak to me. He filled me with an assurance like He was saying "I will make sure you are good enough....stay true to me and I will continue to mold you." It was while riding in my car listening to the song He'll Be Enough that I finally gave me every fear, worry, and concern over to the Lord. This verse rings true tonight....."There's no place that I can go that He doesn't know exactly where I'll be....He's always aware of whereever I am and just what I need!"
Praise God I know that He is in Ukraine comforting both my parents and my new siblings! This is just one more time that I know God will show Himself faithful to not only me but my family. I challenge you tonight, whatever you may be facing in your life....thank God for your circumstances and let Him be the amazing Comforter that He has been to me. I promise you the road won't always be easy, but God will bring you through time and time again!
Dad and LeeAnn....I miss you both already! It was so great getting to talk to you today. Tonight we had dinner and spent time playing with the kids. LeeAnn-Brook asked about you quite a few times and I kept telling her "She went to go get Vika and Sly" to that she responded "Vika, Vika, Vika!" Justin was able to come by and spend a few minutes. Dad he says that he will have the computer on in the morning! I love you both so much! I pray constantly for God to keep you safe and to ease your minds. We have this over here just enjoy yourselves there! Remember I couldn't go so you both have to take enough in for me! I love yall and cant wait to skype again!
Monday, March 7, 2011
We leave today!
It seemed as though today would never come... We are packed and ready! Our Pastor and friend is taking us to the airport this morning. We fly out of Atl.at 3pm headed for Paris. Then straight to Kiev. We are really not sure about time b/c of all the change but think it will be 13 or so hours and then 7 hours ahead in Kiev.
I am a thankful Mama this morning. Nick is working out of town and text me "not to worry bout the ones here ,just go get the rest of our family." My little man Carson held my hand and prayed for our safety and trusted God with his family before I took him to school. Justin has taken on the responibility of the grocery store and I know He will do great. Hannah has my back and it going to be here for Nanny, Brandy and Grandaddy . They are all pulling together and stepping up to the plate! I know that God has used this to bring my family closer and I am so thankful..
We cherish all the prayers! Asking God to use this time for his glory!
Pls remember my Grandmother in your prayers.
I am a thankful Mama this morning. Nick is working out of town and text me "not to worry bout the ones here ,just go get the rest of our family." My little man Carson held my hand and prayed for our safety and trusted God with his family before I took him to school. Justin has taken on the responibility of the grocery store and I know He will do great. Hannah has my back and it going to be here for Nanny, Brandy and Grandaddy . They are all pulling together and stepping up to the plate! I know that God has used this to bring my family closer and I am so thankful..
We cherish all the prayers! Asking God to use this time for his glory!
Pls remember my Grandmother in your prayers.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
SDA Date
OUR DATE HAS COME!!!!! We so EXCITED! and I am nervous, emotional.... and so many other scattered thoughts. Yesterday after 3 weeks we were told our SDA date is March 10th. Wow!
Mike has already booked our flights. :0) We have lots of last minute things to handle. Please pray for our family! We serve an awesome God !He's got the whole world in His hand's! We will write more soon, Much Love to all,
P.s. Happy Birthday to me! don't think I will forget this one :0)
Mike has already booked our flights. :0) We have lots of last minute things to handle. Please pray for our family! We serve an awesome God !He's got the whole world in His hand's! We will write more soon, Much Love to all,
P.s. Happy Birthday to me! don't think I will forget this one :0)
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