Scripture Verse Suday

Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.


Growing up, I was raised a Catholic. We were one of the families that went on holidays to church though. Most weekends we were up at our cottage on the lake and Sunday morning as soon as the sun came up, we were playing on the water - - - we were definitely not in church.


I became a Christian when I was nearly 31 years old. It took a move to SC and the help of my church family that got me to consider it. I know God moved in me, but the Body of Christ got me to the right place at the right time, so I was in a position to receive. A position to accept. A position to ask. A position to understand. A position to realize that I even needed something more than I already had. I needed Jesus Christ.


Prior to becoming a Christian, I never really considered whether or not I would go to heaven. I just thought that when I died, that is where I would go. I mean, I wasn't the type of person who would go to hell. I didn't feel I was "hell worthy". I guess I never stopped to consider whether or not I was "heaven worthy". At the time, little did I know, I was not "heaven worthy". I'm so glad that at 31 years of age, I finally stopped and pondered that question as to whether or not I was heaven worthy, because I was not. I still am not, but thank God, Jesus Christ is, and He stands before God on my behalf. What a friend!


I believe that there are many Catholics in the world who are Christians. I'm not saying that you can not be Catholic and be a Christian. I just know that, having been raised in a Catholic church, that getting there is a lot harder. I don't need the priest to get to heaven. I don't need to confess my sins to anyone but God, and the only person I need to go through is Jesus. I don't need the pope. I go straight to the Holy One Himself. The one and only. I don't need to be baptized, although I have been out of obedience. The only thing, the only ONE I need, is the Lord Jesus Christ! Thank God, I am saved. All it takes is faith. Faith in Jesus Christ. I'm not sure I would have learned this lesson in the Catholic church. I truly believed God put me in a place, arranged my circumstances and placed people in my path who would tell me about the truth.

I'm very thankful today for Anna's scripture verse, and what it has meant to my life!

Now a quick update on the home study and the rest of the weekend. The home study went really well. It went LONG, but it went really well. We met our case worker and she was wonderful. Very informative. She was great with the kids. She interviewed Tim and I separately, then each of the kids separately, and then Tim and I together. We had a really great conversation with her. The kids gave her a tour of the house, and then she was on her way. Unfortunately Cameron and Anna missed Cheerleading and football on Saturday due to the home study, but I think the home study was a bit more important.

After the case worker left, we headed out to run a few errands. We stopped at Koh1's and got some super great deals. I had to get some personal things, and had to get Anna some pajamas. Also, while I was there, I wanted to take a look at some water goblets. (By the way, the kids for some reason think "goblet" is a very funny word) We went in the store with a certain amount of cash. As we were walking toward the cashier, I told Tim that it seemed as though it would be more than what we brought in. But if it was, that was fine, because I brought in some extra money in my purse. So, we checked out, and of-course it was over, and I went to get the extra money out of my purse, and suddenly the amount changed to much less than what we originally brought in. The lady behind the counter had a 20% off coupon for the day and she scanned it for us. Cool!!! That was awesome to me!

Today has been pretty relaxing. Tim is out for an evening run. I just finished ironiing both of the kids' uniforms for the week, and now I think it is time to relax.

The cool news on the adoption is that as soon as the home study is done, we will be ready to file the immigration papers. I have nearly everything completed for our dossier, so when the home study is done and we get immigration approval, we will be good for our documents to go to Ethiopia!!!!

HORRAY!!!

Gotta run! Time to relax!

In Christ's love,

Charity

Doer

I'm a doer!!! And I think I'm close to being done, "doing"! The kids had their physicals today. I got a copy of their immunization records. I got mine and Tim's employment verifications signed and notarized. I got our bank / financial statement notarized. We got fingerprinted this morning and the FBI criminal background check documentation went in the mail today. I'm going to have to look over the home study and dossier checklists again, but I seriously think that all that I have left, uncompleted, is the Immigration approval (waiting on the home study) and the home study itself! WHOO - HOO!!!!

Tim just found Anna's Nintendo DS. We have been looking all over for it. I initially said I was not going to look for it, because I have told her a million times to put it away - somewhere safe. She never does, so I was going to teach her a lesson. Then I felt bad. So, I started to help her look. I couldn't find it, so I gave up. Tim found it in the car under the floor mat. He asked Anna how much it was worth to her, and she said she would give him $1000 for it. Man! I should have looked harder!

Cameron and Anna got some shots today. They got the chicken pox booster and the flu nasal thing. I guess they were really good about the shot. Good for them! That just means that my kiddos are growing up. Thank goodness we have another little one on the way or I might go through withdrawl.

Tomorrow is the home study! Pray that all goes well with that. I'm sure it will be fine. It's just a new agency and not sure how everything will go. I always get nervous and it is never a big deal.

So, now I'm tired. I'm going to relax and watch some television. I'm more of a morning cleaner than an evening cleaner. I'll straighten up in the morning. It will smell fresher then anyway :)

Excitedly in Christ!
Charity

To Do / Done

Today's done list:
Guardians - confirmed!
References - sent in
School reports - ordered

Tomorrow -
Fingerprints for FBI criminal background check
Cameron and Anna Physicals
Copies made of family pictures

Saturday -
Homestudy!!!

We're getting close!!!!

Cameron had a football game tonight. We watched his B-team game and stayed to watch JV because Tim was working the concession stands. I sat back and watched Cameron play football with his friends on the side yard. I loved watching him interact with them. They were some really good kids.

Anna.... well, everyone loves Anna. Everyone KNOWS Anna. She just has that magnetic personality. Young kids love her, Cameorn's age kids love her, older kids love her, even adults love her. She never met a stranger. She had fun tonight.

Oh yes, and Pearl. She had fun as well. Since we went straight from work to the game, we packed a "picnic" dinner. Sandwiches for everyone, chips and a drink. Well, Anna had a cupcake as well. She ate half of it and then set it on the bleacher. I had taken Pearl over to see a special little boy who really wanted to pet her, and on the way back, we walked past the cupcake and Pearl snatched it up. I dug it out of her mouth, but she got quite a bit of it! So, I guess she had her dessert before she even had dinner. Oh well... it was her first and LAST cupcake!

What a fun day!

In Christ,
Charity

Letter to Sara

I've gone through this letter many, many times in my mind. I did the same thing when I was adopting Anna. I thought through all of the things I wish I could say to her. I never wrote it down with Anna though, and I wish that I had. So, lesson learned, I'm going to do that for Sara.



Dear Sara,



Someday you will be home with us, and the years will pass and you will be old enough to read this on your own. Until that time comes, I will share this dream, these thoughts with you as often as I can, as you go to sleep, as you eat, as we play. I will share with you just how much you are loved and how much you were loved, before we even knew who you were.



I was listening to a song the other day and in it it said how a child is loved and known before they are even born, before they ever "were", they are known and loved by God. Adoption is so much like that. I guess that is why it many times is used to represent God's love for us. We are adopted into his family. He loved us before we even become a part of His family. I bet He waits anxiously for us to accept Him and become part of His family. Just like we are anxiously awaiting the day you become part of our family. With adoption, you are loved before you are known. You are loved for the daughter you will become. You are loved for the person you are - without even knowing who that person is. You may even be loved before you are born. Sure, at that point in time, the parents are in love with an "idea", but that "idea" becomes a person, and for us, that person has become you. You are part of our family already. God left and prepared a place for us. We have a place prepared for you sweet Sara. I think that is what I will call you when you finally arrive. You will be my "Sweet Sara". I truly can not wait for you to get here!



Your dad and I have been waiting and wanting you for a very long time. I would like for you to know that adoption was never a "second chance or second choice" for us. Adoption has always been our first choice. When your dad and I were dating, I talked to him about adoption. I had already adopted your sister Anna, and I asked him if he felt he could adopt her and treat her as his own. He obviously said yes, or we would not be married. He did adopt Anna and he does love her as his own. I also talked to him about the possibility of adopting another child. We immediately started to the process to adopt again, as soon as we could after we were married.



God closed some adoption doors for us. At the time, I was very frustrated and discouraged. But that all changed when we decided that we would try to adopt a little girl from Ethiopia. God gave me peace in my heart. He gave me peace with the years and money wasted trying to adopt from other areas. He gave me peace with the time it was going to take to get you home. We had to start the process all over - but something about it was different this time. God, I believe, is involved in this adoption. Any time it takes to go through this process, I'm sure, is His timing. His timing will lead us to you sweet Sara. If it is quick, it is becuase you are already there, waiting for us. If it is slow, it is because maybe you are not even born yet. Who knows? GOD KNOWS!!! I'm counting on Him, because HIS timing is perfect.



It makes me sad, sweet Sara, to know that you will leave a place that you currently call home. It may not be, in my mind, an ideal home for you, but it is still your home. You are spending your time right now getting used to the smells, the sounds, the "feel" of Ethiopia. You are getting used to the taste of food from your home. I will take you from all of that, and I know it will bring a great deal of anxiety to you, and that truly makes me sad. I also know that someday you will realize that you suffered a loss. I'm grateful to know that at least I will be there to go through it with you. I surely won't understand, but I will be there for you. Your dad and I both will be. I know we can never replace the mother that God allowed to carry you, but we can become great parents to you. I hope the love of our family will somehow help soothe the loss in your life. I hope our love overwhelms you and covers you. I hope we make a difference for you.



We will never look the same physically, but you will always be our daughter. We didn't come from the same place, or experience the same things, but you will always be our family. I feel it already. God has plans for you sweet Sara, and I don't know what they are, but they must be great to bring you from all the way across the earth, into our home. We will teach you about the great God that brought this family together. We will teach you how you are ultimately HIS child and not ours. We are just entrusted with you for the time that you are here. Hopefully, during that time, we will have the opportunity to teach you about the God that loves you so much, and that we will be able to experience with you, accepting Christ into your heart. I'm not sure that there could be anything sweeter to a parent than that.



While you wait for us, sweet Sara, I hope that you are happy. I hope you are comfortable, healthy and warm, and that your belly is full. I hope that when you cry at night, that someone hears your cry and looks after you. I hope that when you are hungry you have someone to give you food. I hope that when you are tired, you have a soft, warm place to sleep. When you come home, your dad and I will give you all of these things and more. I will rock you when I feed you. I will give you warm baths and let you play in the tub. Dad tells real good bedtime stories (just ask Anna), so he will do that for you. Don't let him sing to you though, I will take care of that. Dad tries, but he's not the world's best singer :) I'm not either, but again, I try.... I can't wait to take you out in the warm sunshine and play with you in the grass. I can't wait for you to meet your brother and sister, and your step-brothers. I can't wait to take you to church. So many people there are already praying for you sweet Sara. They want you home quickly as well.



I want to brush your hair and make it so pretty. I wonder if you get bows in your hair now. I will put bows in your hair. You will have a closet full of pretty dresses. You will have your very own room - painted by me, with love, with only you in mind. You will have hugs - more than you can imagine. You will have kisses, more than you can count. When you cry at night, you will have a mom and dad to come and soothe you. When you fall and get hurt, we will be there to kiss it and make it better. We will wipe the tears from your eyes. We will never be able to make all of your hurts go away, but we will try with all we have to give you everything we can to make your life good. We will give you a good education, in hopes of a bright future for you. Most important, we will give you family. There is nothing more important than family - a family that includes God!

Your dad and I will do our best to teach you about the country you came from. Some day, we will return to Ethiopia with you. You will see the land you came from, the people who will I'm sure, be so much like you. You will no longer speak the same language and you will have different life experiences, but I'm sure you will sense a connection. I will stand back and watch you in your country, and be blessed that you were brought to us, to our home.

I'm bursting with excitment to get to the point where we know YOU! All in good time though. All in God's time. Until then Sara, I hope you are warm and comfortable. I hope you find things to giggle and coo at. I hope someone teaches you to clap and you enjoy it. I hope as you learn to walk (if you are that old) that you have someone's pinky's to wrap your small hands around while you learn. I hope someone finds time to snuggle precious you every once in awhile. I hope again that your belly if full and you are warm. I hope you learn the warmth of a hug and the look of love in someone's eyes. We can't wait to bring you home. You are loved!

Love,
Mom (desperately waiting for God to show us our daughter!)

I forgot....

Yesterday I forgot to be thankful. I remembered today. Please forgive my forgetfulness. I was wallowing in self pity. Today I'm still wallowing, but I'm wallowing with a thankful heart. While I am drowning in work right now, I'm thankful for my job. While I'm barely keeping afloat right now at work, I'm thankful that my team is coming back (soon!!!). I'm thankful for each member of my group. I'm even thankful for those who are not part of my group but who will be returning so I do not have to cover their job!

Last week, I was thinking about the fact that I really need to show thanks more often. I really, truly am thankful for the people who work for/with me. They put in lots of hours and sacrifice time with their family to make sure we can make the medicine that we need to make to save peoples' lives. Especially at this critical time right now, when we are gearing up to supply the world with Tam!flu. They put in long, stressful hours, and I truly am thankful to them.

I have a little surprise for them next week. At our staff meeting, I'm giving them each a gift to share with their family. I thought it would be nice to show my appreciation by giving them something that they could do relaxing with their family. It's only a small token and doesn't compare to what they have given lately, but I hope it will show them that I appreciate them and their time. I got each of them a gift certificate to a nice local restaurant and a gift certificate to the movie theatre. Again, it doesn't compare to what they do for me, but it does show them that I care and appreciate them.

Now, they all need to get back to work! I would apprecaite them even more if they were HERE!

The manager that is out, and one of my people are out in California on an audit of a supplier facility. They were out at the beach/pier yesterday as they got to California early enough and didn't have to audit until today. I think I heard chuckling in the background as I was conveying my string of work questions. They seriously need to come back to work!

I really do appreciate my job and the people I work with. They are great! Sorry I forgot to be thankful yesterday. It's hard to do that from under the covers :)

In Christ (full strength)
Charity

Maddening Monday

Not a whole lot to post about today. I'm super tired and ready to go to bed... and it's only 7:23. It has been a LONG day though. Work was very stressful. I have 4 people out today and the manager from another department it out, so I am covering for him as well. It was a day of endless phone calls and decisions to make. My boss is out as well, and tomorrow all these same people are scheduled to continue to be out - and I have an all day, on site conference scheduled, and so do the two other people who work for me. So, my ENTIRE department will be MIA tomorrow. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN???? No clue. My guess is, I'll be missing the meeting and covering for 7 people. Oh how I look forward to tomorrow :) (not)

I'm done complaining now. I'm going to go crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head like none of this is happening.

Maybe tomorrow will actually be better!

In Christ, (totally surviving only through Him)
Charity

Scripture Verse Sunday

Psalms 75:1 - Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks.

This is Anna's scripture verse for the week. Another week of focusing on giving thanks to God for everything. Not hard to do, but many times we forget. Last night was one of those times that I forgot. I have a bit of a story to share, then plenty of pictures to share, so this might be a long post.

Tim and I, but mostly Tim, had a bit of a long weekend this weekend. It was packed with stuff to do, and we were under some time constraints, so we had to get it all done this weekend. We were moving furniture from my mom's house to our house. Then we had given our dining room table and a bedroom set away, and we were helping to get it moved as well.

First, about the dining room set. Trust me when I say that I am SO thankful that I have it. Tim and I had a nice dining room table. I have been on the lookout for a china cabinet and maybe something else to finish off the dining room. For now, it was fine. We had the table and when I came across something, then we would think about either getting it, or changing completely. Well, come to find out, my mom purchased new dining room furniture. She was getting rid of her table, china cabinet and dry sink. Oh... I have been eyeing them up for some time - and I will tell you why. I especially wanted the dry sink and china cabinet, and since the table matches the other two pieces, I was more than happy to have them all.

The dining room table is the table I ate on as a child. When we brought it home and set it up in the dining room, it was strange how all of the memories around the dining room table came back. I remembered where I sat, and where everyone else sat. I remembered sitting directly across from my dad. How I wish I could see him today. How I wish I could share life with him. Anyway, that was the table I ate on for most of my life. And it is in remarkable shape. The china cabinet and the dry sink were my hearts' desire though... why? Because it was my dad's hands that finished them. He took care in staining and finishing both pieces and they turned out beautiful. The table is almost 30 years old and the china cabinet and dry sink are close behind in age. When my mom said she had gotten new furniture and asked me if I wanted this furniture, I was so THRILLED to have it. We went to Georgetown yesterday to pick it up, got it home and all assembled and today Tim is making the trip to drop off our other furniture. It is a very long weekend for him.

Besides dealing with the furniture, we had cheerleading and football yesterday. So, in order for the kids to not miss their first games, we stayed around here in the morning and got off to a late start with the furniture runs in the afternoon.

When we got home with the furniture last night it was around 7:00. I was tired. It had been a very long day and it was getting dark out. We stopped and picked something up for the kids and Tim to eat. I was not feeling real hungry, so I didn't get anything. When we got home, I could see the sun setting by the minute. I knew it would be dark very soon and we had a whole trailer of furniure to unload. All I wanted to do was get the furniture out of the trailer so I did not kill myself trying to help Tim move it. I have nightblindness as part of my eye condition, so when it is dusk, it is like dark to me. Most people can see well beyond when I can, and would wonder why I said I couldn't see at the time of night that I begin to have difficulty. But, I know my limitations.

Tim had been running all day and had not had much to eat and wanted to eat his dinner before he started moving things. I on the other hand knew that if I was going to help move things, that it would have to happen quickly. I was tired and irritated, and frustrated with the fact that I even have this difficulty, and I snapped at Tim. I know I shouldn't have, but I did. I just wanted to be able to help, and I knew my help would be limited later. Not an excuse, but it's the truth. We ended up kind of doing both. We moved while Tim ate. In the end it all worked out and we got everything moved in and the old stuff moved out. Here is a picture of the new dining room furniture. It's a little piece of my dad here with me.

Anna had a great cheerleading day yesterday. It was her first time and she looked so sweet. She cheered at the 9:00 game. Cameron's game was not until 12:00. I had quite a bad headache, so I didn't make it to Cameron's game, which is why I only have pictures of Anna. Tim was there though, and he said Cameron did great. He scored three out of four touchdowns! GO CAMERON! Here's Anna's first cheerleading picture:

Next weekend we have our homestudy. Whoo-Hoo! It will be so nice to get that done! Please pray for our family as we continue down this adoption road. I am so looking forward to our daughter coming home and being with us.

In Christ,

Charity