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Happy World Down Syndrome Day!!

3/22/2015

7 Comments

 


Happy World Down Syndrome Day!!


World Down Syndrome Day has become very near and dear to my heart. Last year at this time we were waiting for our sweet Tucker. We were anticipating going to China to bring our precious boy home. What we did not know is this little boy would change our lives forever and awaken more of a heart and awareness for children all over the world born with DS who are abandoned, unloved, and killed everyday.
If you have never had the privilege of meeting our Tucker you are missing out. On July 9, 2009 a little angel was born.  A gift from above. God blessed us with him on July 14, 2014. 5 years he waited. 5 years God was preparing the way for us to bring our boy home.

Tucker was born with Down Syndrome and we are so thankful he was. I believe with all that's in me children are born with DS for a reason they are a gift a treasure. Tucker has taught me so much about love he has shown me how to love deeper and more unconditional. He loves BIG with all his heart, his passion for life shows in his smile and his many facial expressions. Whether it be his sweet dance moves, face grabbing, eye gazing, passionate kisses (intense to the point you will more than likely get licked across the face) or intense bear hugs He is full of life! He loves to kiss and hug and He simply loves everyone. His trust teaches me how to trust more with a whole heart. He loves to make people laugh, he finds happiness in any and all situations, he is very, very special and uniquely made, he brings life, he has passion for life.

(This is not in anyway written to stereo type children with Down Syndrome. All children are born with their own unique personalities and children with DS are not always happy all the time. Children institutionalized and abandon often times have been hurt, neglected, unloved and it affects their trust level. One thing all kids have in common is the fact that they were created in Christ's image and deserve the love of a family no matter their special need or personality.)

My heart has longed for this child I have been so graciously given. How much more has our Father longed for us to give our lives to Him. How much more has our Father desired to see our lives fulfilled. He has created life, life is a gift.

The heart of our Father  
Longs for his child.....Yearns for His child made in His image.
 The heart of our Father loves long, loves deep, loves wide, and loves high.
Ephesians 3:14-19
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
The Heart of our Father freely gives to the point of death that we may have life more abundantly (in large quantities; plentifully). 
The heart of our Father is to see us live in such a way that glorifies Him because He knows this way of living brings LIFE. Not only does it bring life within it brings life all around. Wherever we go. 

John 14:12-13 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.  And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.The heart of our Father becomes ours. 
When we know the love of our Father we are then able to love Him and love with deep passion those around us. Those we are not able to love on our own. 
The life of one has more value and meaning when seen through the eyes of the Father, the one who created each life. The life of one becomes worthy of saving. 
When seen through the eyes of the Father no life looks hopeless. Every life is looked and lavished upon with high esteem.
Today is world down syndrome day. A day to raise awareness for people born with Down Syndrome all over the world. (To raise awareness of how many babies and children with Down Syndrome are in orphanages all over the world or worse yet how many are aborted daily). To celebrate lives created by God Himself, lives worthy to be saved, lives to be looked upon with high esteem, great value, and lives to be treasured. People made in the very image of Christ. 
My heart breaks as I write each word because I have seen. My eyes have been opened to the truth of how little value no value at all is placed on babies with DS all over the world. How little LIFE is worth to this world. 

Without Christ living and dwelling in our hearts, without salvation, the worth of life is diminished.
Salvation is key to LIFE. Salvation that completely changes us and radically alters the coarse of our hearts and lives is the key to the WORTH AND VALUE OF LIFE (of even one previous LIFE). 
Awaken our hearts Lord....
Staggering StatisticsTake a minute to read through this carefully.  It is absolutely heart wrenching....In Central and Eastern European countries alone (this would include Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania, etc, but NOT Russia), there are more than 1.5 MILLION CHILDREN who have been abandoned by their families for one reason or another and are living in "public care" (that's the nice way to put it).  If statistically, 1 out of every 733 live births results in a child with Down Syndrome, that means at any given time there are 2,046 children with Down Syndrome who need families.  THAT'S JUST IN EUROPE!!  Some do not survive because of serious medical complications…some do not survive because of lack of medical attention, lack of food, lack of LOVE.  
In Russia, there are over 700,000 children waiting for families, meaning at least 955 children with Down Syndrome wait, languishing.  In ASIA (China, Hong Kong, Korea, India), there are 3,572,000 orphans, with nearly 5000 children with Down syndrome who are unwanted.  Many of those children are killed at birth. The "lucky" ones end up in orphanages and foster care situations. 
From what I have seen personally there are more children with DS than without in these orphanages.
In the United States 90% of babies with DS are aborted- KILLED.
Annually, 46 million babies die from abortion worldwide. That’s approximately one baby being aborted every two seconds.


To the birth mother that chose life for our son -
I want to thank you from the depths of who I am for choosing life for our precious son. There are not adequate words to express my heart and my forever greatfulness.
Thank you for caring and loving him for the first 7 months of his life. Though I know the choice to give him up must have been the hardest thing you've ever done I pour out my thankfulness with tears streaming down my face. THANK YOU for giving him LIFE. THANK YOU for loving him enough to let him live. THANK YOU for placing him where he could be found. You will never know how much his LIFE has completely and utterly captured our hearts. He brings love, joy, and LIFE wherever he goes. He brings smiles to faces that rarely smile and he fills our lives with laughter. We love him so very much. Without you we would not have him. THANK YOU for the precious gift of life.

If you have never known the love of Christ and never experienced the life altering heart changes every person so desperately desires I ask you to take a leap and say yes to Jesus. Let Him into your heart, let Him capture your heart and let Him do great things with your life for others. Your life will never be the same the day you live it for someone else. The choices you make will reflect the heart of God. 

“A person is a person no matter how small.” – Dr. Seuss“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.” – Thomas Jefferson“The right to life is the first among human rights.” – Pope Francis“I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.” – Ronald Reagan
“How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers.” – Mother Teresa
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.

I encourage you to pray and ask God to move your heart on behalf of one of these children. (A child with Down Syndrome). You never know how God will use your life if you are willing. You could very well miss out on one of these precious gifts!!
http://lifelinechild.org
http://reecesrainbow.org

Because of His love,
Miranda
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7 Comments

You awaken our hearts to your passions, you awaken us...

9/15/2014

2 Comments

 

Pictures provided courtesy of Maya's Hope www.mayashope.org.  



We can not deny what God puts in our hearts.

My heart literally hurts for a hidden treasure...

Hope deferred (Delayed Hope) makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. 
Proverbs 13:12

My heart has been touched and utterly captured by a little girl, a hidden treasure who is looked at by our Father with a love that is deeper than comprehension (than any other) pure love that sees her as the beauty she is. Jesus looks at her with great worth and value not hidden at all.

As of now hope for this hidden treasure, hope for her to have a family that loves her and supports her and sees her as the apple of their eye. 

This hope for her has not come yet.

Is there hope for her?
There is absolutely hope for her, I believe with all my heart there is hope for her, hope that beauty will be made from ashes, hope that she will be cherished and her life will touch and impact whoever she comes in contact with. Hope for restitution and redemption. Hope that she will bring joy and a fresh outlook on simple accomplishments and bring meaning to life.

For I know the plans I have for you. declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 
— Jeremiah 29:11 

Psalm 10:17 
LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.

This hope is delayed, it has not come yet, but it will, I know it will because Jesus loves her, oh how He loves her so. 
It is breaking my heart as I wait for the desire to be fulfilled. My heart is sick and everyday I cry out on her behalf because Jesus loves her so much more. He has captured and broken my heart for her. The reason I am so broken for her is because she is close to Christ's heart. Her beautiful life is being wasted each day she unknowingly waits for someone to come, someone to show her she is wanted, loved, and treasured. Waiting to know what belonging is like, waiting to see beyond the crib she lays in everyday, waiting for relief from fighting daily to survive and hold on, waiting to shine and bring life to a family who willingly says yes to Gods calling on our lives as Christians. 

James 1:27
 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

We are the ones missing out, we are the ones at loss. As healthy Americans who have more resources, money, and freedom than any other country in the world, we are the ones who miss out, we miss out on allowing our lives to be used and then in returned touched and impacted. 

     “One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody.” -Mother Teresa

   Does God need us to accomplish His will? Absolutely not. We are privileged to be used by Him and play a small part in all the big things He is doing. Like I have said It is not about us, what we have done or what we will accomplish. It is about what He has done, what He will do, and what He will accomplish through us for His kingdom. We are His vessels.

2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

I know without a shadow of a doubt I was not born into this world to make my name Known and to use my life as I see fit. I was born to love God and love people, to be emptied of all of my selfish desires so Christ can shine and use my life to glorify the King. Do I die to myself everyday? Do I choose to love as I should all the time? No I mess up everyday but through Gods amazing grace He has shown me that My life is not my own. I do not deserve anything but God lovingly chooses to use the weak things of this world to accomplish His will. How blessed we are.

2 Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Isaiah 40: 29 
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

1 Corinthians 1:27
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

Why out of all the children in the whole world He very specifically chose her to burden my heart? That I do not know. Why He first broke my heart for her country and her circumstances, I do not know. 
I do not need to know, God has not called me to weep and pray for her knowing why, knowing how my prayers for her will be answered. He has asked me to weep and pray for her because He knows why. 
He knows, 
He knows this precious treasure, He loves her and He sees her in His image just as He sees you and I. Prayer brings us closer to the things that are close to Gods heart. 
The orphan is close to His heart.

Psalm 68:5-6
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.
God sets the solitary in families;
He brings out those who are bound into prosperity;
But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

Psalm 27:10
When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the Lord will take care of me.

God does not call the equipped He equips the called and He gives us the faith to say yes, the faith to take a leap into the unknown, knowing He will accomplish His good work. 

Hebrews 13:20-21 
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

“Faith expects from God what is beyond all expectation.” ~ Andrew Murray

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior.

Will what He has called  us to do be easy, NO. Will it be worth it? Will we find joy in it? Absolutely, because He has promised us.

Psalm 16:11
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

We love because He first loved us.
We say yes in obedience to the call He has placed on our lives

"We don’t say yes because we are good or because we are good enough or because we know what to do next. We say yes because somehow in our meager, inadequate offering, Jesus is glorified."
-Kristen Welch

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter" -Martin Luther King, Jr.

I believe this with all my heart and I will not be silent about the things that are close to Gods heart.

I will not sit back and act like children do not suffer and are not treated like trash. Like they don't matter, I won't do it. Christ looks at His precious children with great compassion, worth, great value, high esteem, and love. I won't see what I've seen (children in Eastern Europe hidden away, and treated like they don't exist) and keep silent. I won't keep silent about wrong, horrible things. It is wrong to hide someone away and pretend they are non existant, like their lives have no worth or value because of a choice someone else made. It is wrong to lay someone in a crib all day and ignore them. It is wrong to withhold love when it is in your power to show Christs love. 

Proverbs 3:27, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it”,

Proverbs 31:8-9
Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat."
Mother Teresa

Gods will is put in our hearts, it is not something we have to conjure up. He gives us the desires of Our hearts. 

Psalm 37:3-6
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.

When we are close to His heart our desires will be of things that matter to Him and our desires will be His desires.

Philippians 2:13
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

This precious gem is close to His heart...

Margarita- means "Pearl" a beautiful high valued treasure of God hidden but not hidden from Him. Waiting to be valued and loved.

Isn't she lovely

Isn't she wonderful

Isn't she precious 

Isn't she worth it all

Is it worth it for just one?
Without a shadow of a doubt-

The starfish story 
While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently back into the water.

He came closer still and called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

The old man smiled, and said, “I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”

To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the elderly observer commented, “But, young man, do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish, threw it back into the ocean past the breaking waves and said, “It made a difference for that one.”

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.
Matthew 25:40

     “What we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. I do not agree with the big way of doing things.”
-Mother Teresa

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

The things God burdens our hearts for can seem overwhelming until we choose to take one step at a time and say yes to the things He puts directly in front of us, until we realize being faithful in the little things, being faithful to the things that bring life and healing to one person at a time are worth it all. They may seem small, or like they are not world changing but God does not see it like that.  He sees it as doing it unto Him. He sees it as loving what He puts in front of us. 

  “Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” -Mother Teresa

Luke 16:10
He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

He has not asked us to change the world all at once He has asked us to change one life at a time by reflecting His beauty and shinning His light and love and then in turn that touched life will touch another and another until the world is impacted and changed. Until we find beauty in this simplicity we are blind.

     “We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.” -Mother Teresa
 
       “Jesus said love one another. He didn't say love the whole world." -Mother Teresa

When God calls do not question, second guess, overthink, over talk, or worry about what people think. Do everything unto Him.

Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.  Colossians 3:23

"Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do"
H. Jackson Brown Jr

Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.
Mother Teresa

This is where true joy and worship is found. This is where your life will be used as an example and reflection of Christ. This is where life begins. Life begins when we see each life the way Christ does with wholehearted worth and value. When we serve those He puts in our path with whole hearted love and devotion.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone
Life truly begins when we take leaps of faith to do what most will not do. When we simply say "yes" to God.

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."
-Mother Teresa

When this desire is fulfilled, (it will be fulfilled in His timing) when hope comes, when God answers my prayers for Margarita, it will be a tree of life.... God is faithful to His promises. 

Isaiah 45:2-3
‘I will go before you
And make the crooked places straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.
I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.



So go ahead 
And love like Your not scared
Give when it's not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix your eyes on Him.

Luke 14:12-14
Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Margaritas life matters, it is of great worth and value. If you feel lead and called to make a difference in her life take that leap of faith. Say "yes" to Gods stirring in your heart.
    
Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand.
Mother Teresa

“Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them." -Mother Teresa

The road less traveled by,
has made all the difference....
-Robert Frost




Isn't she Lovely.....

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Isn't she wonderful....

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Isn't she Precious...


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Isn't she worth it all...

2 Comments

Freely you have received so freely give

5/26/2014

0 Comments

 
My words are not adequate to express all God has done and continues to do in our lives. He is worthy of so much more than I am able to give. Yet by His amazing grace He's called me (each one of us). I have the privilege to be a small part of His goodness, His will, His work and to sit at His feet in awe of how worthy He is.

Only when we are completely selfless are we able to love fully.
Only in my nothingness can He be lifted up and glorified. Only in my nothingness am I able to hear His voice so clearly. He speaks to my heart in such a  way that I am changed.
This change He has brought about and will continue to bring about is not always pleasant, it's stretching, it's humbling, it's realizing apart from the vine I can do nothing. I can prosper in nothing. My joy is only surface. I desire to live so much more fully than this world can offer and I can only live in such a way if I am wholly surrendered and connected to Jesus in a way that hurts for Him. Break my heart for what breaks yours. This is my plea.

John 15:5
 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

We are in the final stages of this wait for our Tucker. We received our LoA (letter of acceptance) on April 28th from China.

The estimated wait as of now is 5 weeks or less.
I am full of joy for this long awaited moment yet I hurt for the world. I hurt for people that have not experienced the love of Jesus. I hurt for People who have not experienced the fullness of joy God has to offer and the simple direction and abundance He freely gives. The price He paid for us was death so we might have life.
As we see Jesus' life played out we see a man who was driven by love for God and for His people.
Nothing else matters period.

We were designed and created by God in His image and this is how He sees us. Oh Lord, open the eyes of the blind, open our eyes to see the way You see and then we will live a life of fullness. The path will be paved and only then will our lives bring healing to others. The desire of our hearts is to live life to its fullest and only in Christ can that happen. Only by being able to lay down our life for Christ to live through us, to love through us, to be all we've desired, to be free. We are captives, slaves to this world unless we are set free. Freedom is in Christ.

I hurt for people that are: 
bound- "a limitation or restriction on feeling or action."
in solitary-  "done or existing alone. lonely, companionless, unaccompanied, by oneself, on one's own, alone, friendless; antisocial, unsociable, withdrawn, reclusive, cloistered, hermitic, incommunicado, lonesome."

Bound to a life of sin and not willing to be forgiven.Bound by the lust's of the flesh and not able in their own strength to be free. Deprived of a life that can be more than a conqueror with Christ.

We can so easily be self consumed by things that are not always bad- e.i. hobbies, giftings etc. 
I am the first to admit I waist time on things that have no value. 
Life is too short to waste it on things of no value.

People- are of great value and worth. To help the solitary and bound you don't have to adopt. There are people in our lives who are slaves to addictions, selfishness, hurt, pain, lusts, bitterness, pride, starving for truth and freedom, for the power to overcome. People all around in bondage to self, addicted to lives that lead down a path of self, tunnel vision of self.

Yes, caring for orphans is a huge tug on my heart but to be willing to go across the world and bring a sweet boy home to his family that loves and treasures him and wants to support him through his life I have to be willing to go into my own neighborhood and be a friend to the friendless, to pray for my own family and love them unconditionally through every hurt and to share Christ with a country that has so much yet hurts so much. People that experiences loneliness in the deepest part of their being.

Psalm 68:6
"God sets the solitary in families;
He brings out those who are bound into prosperity;
But the rebellious dwell in a dry land."

My heart is so touched by Psalm 68:6. After looking up solitary and bound and realizing we come in contact with people like this everyday. We have lived lives in solitary and bondage. We are only free because Christ paid the ultimate price, death so that we may have life, life more abundant, A life that is free so we can help the people around us that are hurting, that are desperate for a savior and don't even know it.
When we have freedom in Christ then we are enabled by the spirit to be light to a dark world. To bring hope.

Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Galatians 5:1
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

Isaiah 61:1
 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

My little boy is across the world and though I love him with a whole heart - Tucker has no clue how drastically his life is about to change. With no expectation I will be traveling to China to bring home our son. I am taking Morris with me. Please pray for his heart, for peace, for loss as he leaves all he's ever known. These precious children are brave and while this is an exciting time, it is a time that can not be lived by feelings or emotions. It is a time that has to be separate from feelings. A time to love because Jesus first loved us. A time to love unconditionally, selflessly, no matter the response I receive or don't receive, a love that can only come from Christ. The reality in my nothingness, in all I lack I know Gods grace will be sufficient. 

Please be praying as we embark on an unknown journey that by faith I know will be beautiful.
The reality is yes, it's exciting but it takes laying life down to bring life.

Please pray that God will bring in the rest of our finances.
We have payed our final agency payments and by prayer and faith we know God will bring the money for in- country expenses and airfare as we have seen Him do so graciously before with our Morris.
God is so amazing. Please let your heart be open and let God use your life. you never know how He will use you.
It will be great I promise.

‘Freely, freely, you have received,
Freely, freely give;
Go in My name, and because you believe
Others will know that I live.’

With much love,
Miranda

If you would like to help practically you can go to the GIVE section or here....
Thank you!
1. HTTP://WWW.GOFUNDME.COM/659TV0

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Letter of acceptance from China for our Jin Jon!
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"We love you Tucker!" "see you sooom (soon)!!" -Elias
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Care Package we sent to our second China Boy Doll!!!
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It's about to get crazy up in here. The best kind of crazy!!
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Sweet Lovie bug!
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Even though Tucker's birthday is in July we thought he should have a cake. We sent this to him in December when he was 4 1/2.
0 Comments

A stirring in our hearts

1/9/2014

4 Comments

 
As we begin to recognize Gods voice and see how He moves and the way He patiently guides our hearts in the things He has for us His stirring becomes so familiar, so real, and so unlike anything else. He is rich, fills, empowers and changes us into His image. His beautiful image that is full of life and love, real, true love. We become who we will never become on our own.

Gods stirring for us is a process......


Our hearts have been stirred once again for a little boy in China. This stirring has been a process of patience and standing back to allow God to work and move to bring His perfect will to fruition.
Our stirring for our little Jin Jon started about two years ago around the same time our prayers were being sent for sweet Morris. They were both on the same waiting child list and they have both utterly and completely captured our hearts. God so perfectly guided us and worked out each detail through Morris' adoption to prepare our hearts and build our faith in such a way that we would be open and ready for our Jin Jon. His timing is truly perfect.

March 2012 was not only the month God stirred my heart to Morris specifically it was also the time in which He stirred my heart for children with Down Syndrome. It was like the stirring He first put in my heart for China something I can not explain. A love I can not deny that is from God alone.

Though I knew Morris was ours I could not understand this heart I now had for children with Down Syndrome. I knew it was for a reason, I knew it would come to pass, but I did not know it would be two years later before God would reveal His plan.
Luke was very drawn to our Jin Jon's (Tucker's) video and so was I. My heart was so full for both boys I cried out to The Lord in a prayer for them. A prayer I wrote down on paper and put away (I don't normally write out prayers like this) God brought the peace and patience He knew it would take to wait this long to bring our second boy home.

Tucker did not have a file which means he was not available for adoption at the time Morris was. He had a picture up but no file. God knew why. I know God's hand was behind this, He knew we were to bring Morris home first for a very specific reason. Reasons we may never understand. Reasons we really don't need to understand. We are grateful He knows. We trust His timing.

Like I said I did not understand my heart for children with DS. I did not understand my heart for Tucker. I did not know we would eventually be bringing him home. All I knew was he captured my husband and my heart and I wanted him to be file ready and to have a family of his own. My prayers for him were mainly that he would have a family. I have indescribable heart of love for him.

As time went on and we were busy preparing for Morris God continued giving me glimpses of His heart for orphans with DS and at this point I was 99% sure we would eventually adopt a child with DS. I did not know when, where, who, how or why all I knew was God was moving.

God was so faithful to keep my mind and heart in His perfect peace and to keep focused on Morris and His needs. Our time in China really opened ours eyes and hearts to how much people everywhere need Jesus. To how desperately we need Jesus. To how we can not love without Jesus. Our visit to Morris' orphanage started to really guide our hearts to Tucker though we were not fully aware of it at the time. Really most of what I remember is Tucker's little face staring up at me through an open window as I looked into Morris' classroom. I looked over at Luke with so much joy in my heart (as we were trying to get the camera out and everything felt so chaotic) and said "look there's Dylan" (that was his name on the waiting child list). He was so excited to see us! He followed Luke around the entire time. He grabbed onto his leg and Luke took a picture of him. He smiled with a big sweet smile the entire time we were there. As we were about to leave Tucker reached up for me and I picked him up and gave him a little snuggle. On our way back to the hotel our guide told us how much she loved Jin Jon, how sweet and smart he is, and how she hopes he will have a family.

I can honestly say God gave me what I needed to get through our time at the orphanage and our time in China. The need can seem very overwhelming. God has shown me over and over what I can do to help.  Surrender and do what He puts in front of me. My prayer is always " Lord show me what I can do to help, however that may look." He is faithful to guide.



Bringing Morris home and helping him adjust to his new life was at the top of our priorities. We wanted him to feel secure, loved and have his needs met. Adopting again was not at the front of our minds though we are always seeking to be open and obedient to whatever The Lord has called us to. Though my focus was my family my heart kept being pulled for orphan boys specifically with DS and so I started to pray.... "Lord, what is this heart you've so clearly given me.


As Morris began to adjust and learn English he truly amazed us at how fast he adapted to his new life. He loved showing us pictures from his Orphanage and telling us everyone's names. He is a love. He told us little Jin Jon's name and began praying every night and every morning for Jin Jon to have a family. If any of us forgot to pray for his friend Jin Jon (even before meals) he would interrupt our prayers to remind us to pray for him. He began saying things like "Daddy, I want Jin Jon to come to my house." Through Morris' sweet heart for his friend God was guiding our hearts. My heart was now stirred once again to pray for Jin Jon. My prayer was that a families heart would be stirred for him. I began advocating for him and was told he was not yet file ready. This was so burdening my heart.



Morris' heart for his friend truly began stirring all of us for Jin Jon.


August 4th 2013 was my sisters birthday party, we went to her house for a barbecue. It was a time to laugh and enjoy family. Elias our four year old climbs up in a tree interrupts everyone yelling at the top of his lungs to announce that we need to pray for Jin Jon to have a family and for his brother in India Devakumara (the boy we sponsor). He asked each person to choose who they wanted to pray for Jin Jon or Devakumara by pointing to them. There were a few people that were not Christians that prayed. He prayed on his own with a loud voice for all to hear. It was amazing! It was out of the ordinary and this stood out to everyone there.



This stood out to me and I knew this was something I needed to fast and pray about. God reminded me of the prayer I wrote, but I did not know if I kept it or where it could be. As I looked for it I found it in a bag of papers. It was dated September 9th 2012.


I really felt I was to take a week to fast and pray that Jin Jon would become available for adoption. That his file would be ready. I decided to start the fast and prayer the week leading up to September 9th and to end on the 9th the date on the prayer. As I fasted and prayed my heart was so full for him I felt almost sick.
God gave me this scripture in Proverbs
"Hope differed makes the heart sick but when the desire comes it is a tree of life."


The week seemed to pass so slow, but God gave me such a strong confidence that He would answer my prayer and that Jin Jon would finally be file ready. I fasted from Internet altogether so at the end of the fast I checked the waiting child list Jin Jon was on it and I noticed right away his picture was updated! I was so happy!  I emailed our agency asking if his file was ready not expecting a reply since it was closed Sundays. I got an email back almost right away saying HIS FILE CAME IN!

I was in awe yet not at all shocked. I ran outside and showed Luke his updated picture and told him everything.
We serve a living God.
I knew now this would be a time to quietly pray and see what God wanted to do. How He wanted to work. I was aware that we had to be home six months before we could start another adoption. At this time we were home with Morris 4 months and I truly felt like we should wait and see if there was someone else interested in adopting Jin Jon. Luke had suggested to wait a couple months pray and see what God had in store. It was a step of faith as I thought for sure he would have a list a mile long of families waiting to look at his file, but he didn't.

Sept 9th I was praying that if we were the ones to look at Jin Jon's file Luke would be the one to bring it up. I found out through a friend that you could adopt again before six months of being home if you were approved. I told Luke about this. I did not mention my hearts desire to look at  Jin Jon's file. Luke said "Let's look at his file" I emailed our agency and that evening they sent his file. Before looking at it I waited for Luke to get home and quietly prayed.......

Tucker has Down Syndrome. Tucker is not defined by his extra chromosome he is uniquely and wonderfully made. He is who God created him to be, he is a child of God and we are so thankful for who he is. I am aware of the medical needs children with DS face and it does not scare me, but I also know that we do not know what surgeries and therapies Morris will need in the future so I prayed that despite Jin Jon having DS he would be healthy. His file says he is healthy and smart. I know God puts these prayers in our hearts so when they are answered we will be confident in His calling. We are aware that despite what his file says he could have health issues. We feel God has answered our prayer and is leading us one step at a time to little Tucker.

We looked through his file and his name means many trees, I thought of the verse God had given me right away.

Hope differed makes the heart sick but when the desire comes it is a tree of life. I didn't say anything really to Luke. He then said " I love what his name means." I told him how I prayed that he wouldn't have any major heart problems. We were quiet we both wanted to see if anyone else was open to adopting him. We waited on The Lord for three more weeks....

After three weeks still no one had inquired about him. I began to pray that Luke would be the one that brought up placing his file on hold. We were talking exactly three weeks after looking at his file and Luke showed me a video of something about Down Syndrome he was watching- I told him that at this point no one had inquired about Jin Jon and he said we should just put his file on hold.
I emailed right away and the next day they placed him on hold for us. We again said let's take some time to pray.......
A week or two later after talking to a social worker at our agency, praying and waiting on The Lord we knew he was ours.

About a week after that they approved us to move forward with him even though we had not been home quite 6 months with Morris. As of November we have been pre- approved to adopt Jin Jon......

God has answered the cry of our hearts, He saw sweet Morris' heart of child like faith and God is bringing His will to fruition. We are blessed beyond measure to be called to adopt another little China boy doll. God moves in His timing and gives us the peace, patience, and confidence to keep going one prayer at a time. Through the waiting and through the unknown.



I never want to live a life that is not lead by the spirit, I never want to miss out on all God has, and I never want to say no to the blessings He sets before us.

God does not ask us to conjure up a heart to do his will, He does not ask us to work it out on our own or to try and figure it out or strive to do it alone,.He gives us a heart for His will for us. He gives us all we need. He draws our hearts close to the things that are close to His.  He sways the hearts of kings, He works out all the details, He gives us the grace, love and confidence to carry out His will set before us.

Let's never miss out.....
Lord here I am, use me....


We have one short life to live. You can have all the world just give me Jesus!


M
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This is the picture Luke took of Tucker the day we met him at the orphanage
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Our boys growing up together as friends at their orphanage in Maoming, China
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We were matched with our sweet Jin Jon!
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Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. This is the verse God gave me for Tucker. As we were hiking, before we had even talked about adopting again, I was praying for Tucker and God gently spoke to my heart after reaching the top of the hill "city of trees" and I immediately thought of this verse. I knew at this point Jin Jon was supposed to live in Boise the "city of trees." Tucker"s (Jin Jon's) name in Chinese is Zhong Sen- Sen means many trees. God showed me all of this before we even looked at his file or knew his Chinese name. God is faithful.
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Thankful - Our China Boy Doll

11/3/2013

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When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the Lord will take care of me.
-Psalm 27:10



November is a month to reflect on all we have to be thankful for. It is adoption month and today is Orphan Sunday. This post has come at such an appropriate time.

Thank You Jesus that our Morris is one less orphan. We are so proud of him. He is truly amazing.


We have been home with our sweet Morris for almost six months and I am able to reflect on all I have to be thankful for.



Writing this post has not been without tears. God has been exceedingly good. He has poured out in a way I never knew possible. He has shown me glimpses of the way thankfulness opens a heart to more and more of Him and the beauty of His pure heart.


Thankfulness……


Jesus thank You for stripping me of all I've perceived myself to be and showing me who I really am. A sinner who needs a savior every moment of everyday. A wretch that need's to cling to the cross and freely receive forgiveness and freely forgive.


A blind man that needs to see more of You.


A human that needs Your love to be able to give it out.

One that can not perceive the things of God this alone is humbling. A life with a heart that is hard without Christ. A person that will never be perfect and yet that is o.k. because in God alone I am asked to find my strength and identity. In Jesus I am able to find all that I need. In Him alone I am able to be made new, made pure, and able to conquer. He is able to make up for all the ways I lack. He covers all I mess up and is glorified in my weak life. Thank You Jesus. Thank You for forgiveness and the freedom it brings. The way it washes away and brings healing. The way it restores.


Though our journey to Morris seems not long ago it is as though He has been with us always. His precious life has been in the hands of Jesus and I see the way God has tenderly watched over him and cared for him. I am thankful….
Thankful He has preserved our precious boys life and brought him to our family. Though his life has not been without loss and heartache Morris has shown to be so very brave, strong, and able to love and receive love. He loves to love. Our Morris has a tender heart with such an innocence that in ways reflects Jesus..... I am so very thankful for child like faith and the way children are able to love. 



Morris has left all he has ever known and though it was not ideal it was familiar. It was his normal. This is something I will never truly understand. In my lack of understanding thank You Jesus for the compassion You give and the glimpses You give us into his sweet little heart. Without You Lord my love would be based off  feelings, emotions, it would be conditional, a shallow love that can not help or heal. Not really love at all.



Thank You for Your pure love that heals and brings life. Thank You Lord that You alone are love....I am learning love is a choice, love is sacrifice, selfless, and restores all that is lost. Your love is unconditional and beautiful. Your perfect love casts out all fear and oh, how I've seen this throughout our journey.


Thank You Jesus for our little boy  You brought from the other side of the world...he has enriched our lives and taken us deeper in our relationship with You. 

Jesus You have shown us the only way to go deeper in our relationship with You is for us to be put in situations where we have to cling to You fully with all that we are and though it can be hard yes, oh yes, I am so thankful. Thankful for each night my boy is home with us tucked in his bed and I don't have to wonder what he is doing because I know.

Each morning he crawls from his bed to mine and lavishes his snuggles and kisses on me.

Each time he says "I Lu (love) you mommy". Each time I hear him playing and laughing with his "dede" (brother) and "sissy". How he amazes me in that not long ago he did not even know what a family was and now he works hard everyday to contribute to his family. He works hard to follow rules and to please his parents with a sense of belonging.  I have to remind him that even if he does something wrong I will always love him. I am blessed by his spirit of contentment and humility. I am blessed by  his smile that is contagious and his joy that spreads. Thankful for how quick he is to forgive and the compassion he has on others and the way he freely gives love.

 He is conquering his fear a day at a time with his security in our love and his sense of belonging.

Thankful......

He now has a family that supports him and stands behind him and rejoices in his accomplishments. He now has a brother and sister that fight over sitting next to him at the dinner table, hug, and kiss him everyday and are shaped into better little people by learning to share and die to themselves. Oh, how thankful I am to see first hand how Gods love takes a feeble little child with deep fear and gives confidence and peace.



I am thankful to see Morris with his daddy. The way he looks up to him and finds confidence in his love. 

I praise and thank You Jesus for

when Morris sings "I love my daddy and mommy. I love my sissy and dede" with such joy in his heart. The way he prays to Jesus with his child like faith always saying Jesus thank you for...



Jesus thank You for all that I get to see Morris accomplish and each day spent with my husband and each of my children.



Jesus thank You for our precious Morris' birth mother who chose life.



I have moments of complete grief as I reflect on the years I missed in Morris' life until sweet Jesus softly and tenderly reminds me that this is His plan and His purpose.  I have shed many tears thinking of how Morris' birth parents will never see his gentle spirit so full of life and love yet in my tears I am reminded of this beautiful verse



“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:5



And I am encouraged in God's promises.



For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11



Thank You Jesus for Your word and the truth it brings, the way it transforms our minds and hearts and guides us in this journey of life.

Thank You for life, and how You treasure each one.

Thank You that this life is not my own it is Yours.

My heart is full filled to overflowing with thankfulness for a great God who is always good!

M




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Elias and Morris meeting Mickey. Morris was screaming at the top of his lungs he was so excited!
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The kiddos in their bunks on the tour bus. They love to travel with the family
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Sweet little sleeper
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At Harvest Church in Riverside, California after daddy's concert
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Brothers
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All smiles
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Swimming at the NATATORIUM
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He loves chuckee
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:)
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Morris caught his first fish
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Can't wait till Morris is playing for esterlyn
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Peddling to the park
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Birds of prey in Idaho
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The Orphanage Visit

5/27/2013

2 Comments

 
I am humbled at the gift of life. The way God looks at each of us with eyes of deep unconditional love, compassion, and as His treasured gifts. Each life to God is precious, beautiful, worth dying for. Each orphan is just as much treasured by the Lord as we are. He has called us to be His hands and feet and to see each life through His eyes.
Life is a miracle. Each life is so precious. Each child deserves to know the love and support of a family, to have a place to call their own, to be encouraged and uplifted in Gods plan for them, and to know that God has gifted each of us in different and unique ways and desires to use those gifts for His kingdom.

Our visit to Morris' Orphanage was a gift, we feel very privileged for the opportunity to see where he has spent the first five and a half years of his life. I have been looking forward to this part of our trip for a longtime.
Morris' orphanage is a four and a half hour drive from where we are staying in Guangzhou so we anticipated a very long, emotional day.
Not knowing what to expect we decided through prayer this would be a good thing for Morris to say goodbye to his nannies, teacher, and friends.
The visit turned out to be a bigger blessing than we realized.

As we arrived at Morris' Orphanage his friends from preschool were waving down at him from an upstairs open classroom. His built up emotion poured out on arrival, tears streaming down his face. He has about the most heart melting cry I've heard. We let the orphanage director carry him up to his classroom. As he entered his classroom his cry turned into laughing. He loves his friends! We felt very welcome and they began showing us all that they have been teaching him. Morris was so sweet as he passed out a small treat to each of his friends. His smile lit up the room and you could see the love each one had for him. Morris' teacher sat with him at the piano and they sang a song.

Each room they took us to was where Morris spent his days. We learned so much about him in that short time we were there. Each care giver loved our Morris and was so thankful he now has a family and an opportunity to spread his sunshine. They called him "sunshine boy!"
We were blessed with a few treasures they had saved for him. A small teddy bear, his little tin cup he drank from, and an amazing memory book with sweet baby pictures. Morris was so proud to show us his crib that he slept in and his chair with his name on it that he sat in during his preschool time.

Our guide Rebecca was amazing! She was able to translate questions we had for Morris and we found out he loves lanterns and when he grows up he wants to make a lantern. These little pieces into his thoughts are each treasured. He is very smart, he greets everyone with good morning auntie or uncle, and he knows each of the kids names at his orphanage.
He said goodbye without tears although on the way home he shed a few as he was thinking about his friends.

I pray that each of us as Christians will take time to pray about how we can help the orphans and widows however that may look.

God has shown me the lack of love and wickedness of my own heart during our time in China. The disabled here in China are very much outcasts. Many people have no compassion to people with special needs, as we walk down the streets we do not see people with special needs.
We have been shown disrespect with starring, pointing, laughing because of our sons disability. I have been very heartbroken at these responses and have let my heartbreak turn into anger and bitterness. The Lord gently reminded me that He loves the very people that have shown this disrespect and that these people need Jesus. China is a country based on false God's or no God at all. I am called to show Christ's love to each person I come in contact with, I can choose to shine for Him. Please pray with me for this country. God desires that each person come to know Him. The harvest is plenty but the workers are few. My prayer is that through each family that adopts, that shows Christ's love for the least of these, for the children and people with special needs that ultimately people's hearts here in China will be opened and changed. That they will desire to be different, that they will have a longing for a true religion in their own lives. My prayer is that I can love like Christ loves because only then will people see a difference.

Lord, my prayer for sweet Morris is that he will have a deep compassion for people and for his country. I pray that he will be bold and that he will find his confidence in You. I pray that he will shine bright for You, that his life will be a reflection of Your beauty, and that many will come to know You through his story.

May God break my heart so completely that the whole world falls in. ~Mother Teresa





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GOTCHA DAY!!!

5/21/2013

10 Comments

 
Gotcha Day!!!
It has taken a little time for this post because we have been truly cherishing each moment with our precious boy......
Monday May 20th 2013
The day couldn't have been more beautiful, each moment is treasured.
I want to start off by saying I am so thankful God is steadfast and never changing because in this life emotions change daily and sometimes by the minute.
As we prepared to meet our sweet boy I found myself in constant prayer and was able to reflect on all God has brought us through up to this point.
I was able to reflect on God's heart for me and for the orphan and the beautiful process adoption is. God is in the details even when we think some of them are silly.
The Lord keeps speaking to me saying, one step at a time, just put one foot in front of the other and I will take care of the outcome, in faith do My will for you and you will see more of my character. So here I am doing that very thing, entrusting the outcome into His hands. Through this I am able to trust Him more. I can not put into words every detail, but I can say God has truly reminded me that He is in control and He sees what is in store.
Every single prayer has been answered up to this point, I am so very thankful for all of the prayers that have gone out on our behalf and the power prayer has.
Before leaving to meet our Morris we spent time in prayer, as we headed out time seemed to stand still as we were driving. I felt God calming me, He gently said it will be ok.
We entered the civil affairs office and went upstairs to a small room crowded with other families and noises. We were searching for our boy, we had to patiently wait for them to bring him out. Through a crack in the back door of the room we saw a glimpse of our sweet little boy sitting in his wheelchair with a smile on his face, he looked over and saw us gazing and smiled so big, he had recognized us from the pictures we sent :) We continued to wait.....
As the nannies wheeled Morris out I literally felt like I was in a dream and everything, all the distractions in the background faded. He was all smiles, looking so proud.
Before I picked him up the nannies wanted him to show me a Mother's Day gift he had made for me. He was so proud showing me the picture frame with the family picture of us in it. He pointed to each person in the picture yelling mama, baba- it was so cute. I looked down and his arms were stretched to the sky with a smile from ear to ear! I picked him up, he came right to me, I held him close while giving him hugs and kisses. Like I said before it is very hard to put these moments into words, they are very very special. The moment we had been waiting for so long had come. All the pictures and videos we had seen finally were becoming real. We could see and touch our little boy. He is truly amazing, we are so proud of Morris for being so brave. I kept saying I cant't believe he is ours. Adoption is a miracle.
Morris was very excited about his bumble bee backpack filled with special toys and treats. He especially loved the little fan airplane, juice box, and bubbles. The simple things we take for granted he sure loves. As we blew bubbles and had Mickey Mouse pop them he was laughing at the top of his lungs. He felt very comfortable with us, not afraid. We had time to ask the nannies questions and collect his things that we had sent to him. All of a sudden Morris realized the nannies were gone and he began to weep, my heart broke as I watched his eyes searching all over the room for the only familiar people in his life. It was heart wrenching.

I just want to say how very thankful and blessed we are for the nannies that truly loved our boy over the past five and a half years he's been alive. We can tell they really love him, they took very good care of our sweet boy and wanted to make sure they each got individual pictures with him before they left. We are so impressed with the love and care his orphanage provided.
Thank you Jesus for our precious, precious treasure. Thank you for choosing him for our family.
Morris began to calm down on the car ride back to the hotel. He amazes us with each passing day. He is receiving our love, and his trust for us is building with each moment we spend nurturing him. Our little boy is tiny, yet strong, meek and mild yet passionate and full of life. His disability does not define him, it makes him who he is. He loves conquering new challenges and making us laugh. We are blessed beyond measure!!
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WE ARE HERE

5/21/2013

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The day we left for China Morris was exactly 51/2 years old.
We are so grateful that God has hand picked us out of all the people in this world to go on this journey of adoption to our little man. We feel very privileged to be little Morris' parents.
The first few days as we waited to meet our little Angel we had a wonderful time together. We have enjoyed the rest and seeing some of the beautiful Chinese culture (not to mention loving this nice hotel).
There have been so many different emotions through this adoption process, but God is always here to give us just what we need. He is definitely a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He never ceases to amaze me. So thankful I have Him to lean on. I am so thankful He desires to build our faith and trust it gives this life purpose.
The most amazing part of the days leading up to meeting sweet Morris is the peace God has enveloped us with. Peace that passes all understanding. He has been here to calm each fear and doubt that try's to creep in.
My husband has truly been a blessing. He has so much love to give, and such a big heart. I love how the team work draws us closer and closer together. My heart is so full.  I am one blessed girl.

M

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FLYING TO CHINA

5/17/2013

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My heart is overwhelmed as I think about Gods love this morning. I woke up early to catch the 6:20 Ferry to Vancouver, BC - The last two days we have had the privledge to lead worship at some amazing churches here on the islands of British Columbia. My wife and I are meeting up at the Vancouver Airport to complete what was birthed through prayer many years ago. We are going to go get our little boy!
Thank you Jesus for Your love in my life. Thank You Lord for Your compassion. I could never say thank You enough. We want more of You in our lives. Our prayer is that our actions would declare who You are. Your beauty overwhelms me-
Please be with us today

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His promises are true!

4/26/2013

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God's Provision

I should not be blown away at God's goodness and faithfulness, that is His character. Yet I am.
I am humbled that He chose me to be my husbands wife and chose us to be parents to three sweet children. We are blessed that He hand picked each of them for our family.

He has once again displayed His faithfulness in our Journey.........

He has once again guided and directed each of our steps...........

He has once again poured out His grace and mercy..........

His love abounds

March 12th,

China gave us our letter of acceptance. Meaning we will be traveling to bring home our precious little boy very soon.
We received our Letter of Acceptance in 35 days. A month earlier than we were expecting. It is all happening a lot faster than we thought.
We are so so thankful and so very blessed. God sees the path before us. He knows our every need and desire.
We take great comfort knowing that God is with our Morris as he waits for us. Please pray for Him as he is about to leave the only life he has ever known.

March went by very fast with all of the paperwork and all the anticipated steps we have taken in this adoption process. God's perfect timing! March is a very special month. God began to place a very real, very heavy burden on my heart for our precious Morris last year. My heart is full as I see how God compels us with His love. My life is forever changed as I look back and see God's mighty hand at work
In all the tiny details. He cares for us, He does not leave us as orphans, His spirit has come to change us, to live and dwell in us, to give us sight when this world is so dark, to give us an eternal perspective. Without God I am a selfish wretch that lives only to gratify the flesh. I need
more of Jesus.  I need Him to continue to burn away the things in me that are not of Him.

Thank you for using the weak things of this world Lord..........

WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE PRAYED AND GIVEN TO OUR ADOPTION!!! WE ARE SO BLESSED!!!

God is using each of you to play your part in an orphans life (AN ORPHAN NO MORE). We are so, so grateful for the love and support we have been shown throughout this process.

Please keep praying for us as we are now officially waiting for our Travel Approval (as of April 18th). This is around a 2 week wait. It could take longer. When we receive our travel approval we leave two
weeks after that. (Middle to end of May)
Please pray for us! We need a lot of prayer. Our lives are about to be changed forever. We are thankful, and at the same time we know it will be hard in ways.
Please pray for Elias and Brighten as they adjust to Morris. Please pray for Morris as he learns to be part of a family (he has never been apart of a family).
Please pray that God gives Luke and I the love and wisdom it takes to raise our precious children for Him. Prayer is the biggest way you can help!!!!!!!!

M






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    We are a simple family from the great state of Idaho. We have adopted two little boys from China. Morris and Tucker and now we are in the process of adopting there childhood friends Ezra and Darla. This is our Journey...Thanks for caring!

    The Caldwell's
    Luke, Miranda, Elias, Brighten, Morris, 
    Tucker, Ezra and Darla

    esterlyn.com

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