Pequenopie “Little Feet” August 23, 2009

This is a recent picture of our little Sharon that we love in China. We hope and pray for her everyday, for her health and to find a family to adopt her. A family that will give her a belonging , give her love and security, give her a chance in life.  Even though it breaks my heart to see her growing up and not being able to be with her, I know that God put her in my life for a reason. Maybe for her not to be ours, but to start something in my heart and soul, to always pray for her and remember her.  We will always remember her as the catalyst, to this journey we are on.

Last time I posted, I wrote on how God kept showing me other orphans around the world. How at first my heart was only for Sharon and the other Phillip Hayden children and how eventually it changed to a child in China. But he kept changing our direction and hearts, to other countries and ethnicity’s. During this time, I had many people say why don’t you adopt from here and I just thought God was showing us another direction. Well finally, he has our heart at home, in our own backyard, there are thousands of children that are orphans.

We are starting our foster pride classes in September to become licensed foster care  parents in Michigan. We are really excited and are happy that he continues to show us his way for us. His path, his timing, his way. He has this way of closing some doors and opening others and it’s so awesome to look back and see things that are happening to make this happen in our lives, in this way.

Even the simplest things, our oldest daughter is getting married in 6 days. We knew when I came back from China and decided to adopt, we would have to wait at least a few years. So with our 3 daughters living with us, we knew we would have to move one of them in the basement or get some bunk beds. Anyway, since then Beka got engaged so we knew we would be fine with room for a new child in a few years. Well, Dustin and Beka decided to get married this year and a  while after that we started looking into foster care.  We are thinking we may have a child in our home in 6 months or so. So there it is all worked out, we have the room.

So in his timing, and in his way, he makes all doors open and close, that he needs to. How great it is to know, that I don’t have to worry or stress. He has it all worked out for us, before we even see it. There is great comfort in that. With all the things that are wrong and scary in this world, I don’t need to be afraid. All the people that are suffering, from losing their jobs, homes, sickness, death, that he knows all things. That even when you can’t see it, and you don’t understand or contemplate what God is doing, he knows and maybe wants to make it better for you. Once you are there, you look back asking what was I afraid of, I knew he was guiding my steps the whole time but I just don’t always know how to let go and trust him.

It reminds me of this poem..

Footprints in the sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But i have  noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you the most, you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you.”

by, Mary Stevenson

 

We ask for your continued prayers that God would continue to show us the direction to our child.

 

More to come later!

Pequenopie “Little Feet” July 19, 2009

I had a talk with my sister about some of the frustrations that I am encountering. With the wait and needing to come up with so much money for the cost and fees of adoption. I am also having a hard time with seeing those around me that are in the process of adoption, getting their children or almost. Even though some of them have waited years and years, and may have no other children. I can see how those women who are going through infertility, see babies everywhere. How so many every day things are directed towards children and family. Commercials, movies, shows, babies everywhere at stores and walking down the street. There is no where to hide from these feelings.

In this discussion and thinking how I feel about things, she talked about a monopoly game. Sitting in jail watching others keep on playing and you are just stuck. I thought of uno and getting the skipped and reversed card. You are ready but you have no control, you keep watching and waiting for your turn. Debbie mentioned it’s sorta like one step forward, two steps back. This happens in so much of life but I think it is a accurate explanation of how I feel.

I have been looking into selling things on our blog to help support us. I was so excited earlier this week, that I was approved to sell handmade bracelets that were made from the people in Philippines. I also put a donate button on this blog to allow people to help us, to partner with this journey. But then it can look so insurmountable and too hard to achieve.

I will continue to try and have faith. That God put this desire in our hearts and soul. I might not know or see how this is all going to work out, but it sure will be amazing.

Thanks for everyones support and prayers. I will put the bracelets on soon, so everyone can see them.

More to come Later!

Pequenopie “Little Feet” July 15, 2009

I have been doing a lot of surfing and checking out other adoption blogs and adoption forums. It is really interesting and exciting to see so many people in the same situation that we are and some that are further along or have their awaited child already. I found a forum that an adoptive family posted a discussion on international adoption. It was really good to see many peoples ideas and some that weren’t very positive.

This family had a family member that was trying to support them and at the same time asking why they didn’t choose to adopt from the US or foster adopt. There were many people that seemed angry and vocal about their feelings. 

What I found is there are many people that want to foster and hope to be able to adopt that child. Also that Adoption in the US is very difficult. I know a friend of the family just adopted and my sister also and had everything run quickly and with no problems. Checking out this blog ,many people found that they were willing to adopt children with minor disabilities and most of the time, they waited years with no child.

Sometimes it sound like if the social worker wants a child to stay in a certain state they can decide, that you won’t be able to adopt that child. I also heard of families wanting to adopt a older child and that child being fostered to another family and then let out of the system when they were 19 and never being adopted.

I think there are issues in the foster care system and the adoption system. Things that don’t seem right to the children in question and the families willing to love them and keep them. Is it better to have a system that has flaws and issues then no system? I think not. I wish the adoption system would just make sure a family qualifies to be a safe home and would take much of the expense out of it. Also the time these families have to wait and the children.

I don’t think it is fair for people to judge others decisions. We thought of fostering at some point and didn’t feel like it was right for us. I don’t know if I would handle the child possibly being a part of your family for a short time and then gone, out of you life. We also thought of our children, how would that affect them. I think there are some amazing people out there that God has gifted with this ability to love a child and let them go.

We also feel like God birthed something in our heart for the children in orphanages that hardly have enough food every day. That have no heat, no water, no chance. Even though it may be more money to adopt from another country, these children need to be adopted. They have no chance without loving parents taking them home.

I thank the Lord that he puts people out there to adopt from the US and from other countries. That there are also people that open their hearts and homes to foster children also. We need all of them to do what they are called too. I hope people can get past judging and just do what is right for them.

 

Total Adoptions to the United States

*NOTE:  All statistics given correspond with the U.S. Government fiscal year, which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30.  For example:  Adoption statistics for 2008 = Number of adoptions from October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008. 

Fiscal Year 2008 Adoption Statistics

 

	FY 2008	FY 2007	FY 2006	FY 2005	FY 2004
1	Guatemala4,123	China5,453	China6,493	China7,906	China7,044
2	China3,909	Guatemala4,728	Guatemala4,135	Russia4,639	Russia5,865
3	Russia1,861	Russia2,310	Russia3,706	Guatemala3,783	Guatemala3,264
4	Ethiopia1,725	Ethiopia1,255	South Korea1,376	South Korea1,630	South Korea1,716
5	South Korea1,065	South Korea939	Ethiopia732	Ukraine821	Kazakhstan826
6	Vietnam751	Vietnam828	Kazakhstan587	Kazakhstan755	Ukraine723
7	Ukraine457	Ukraine606	Ukraine460	Ethiopia441	India406
8	Kazakhstan380	Kazakhstan540	Liberia353	India323	Haiti356
9	India307	India416	Colombia344	Colombia291	Ethiopia289
10	Colombia306	Liberia314	India320	Philippines271	Colombia287
11	Haiti302	Colombia310	Haiti309	Haiti234	Belarus202
12	Philippines291	Philippines265	Philippines245	Liberia183	Philippines196
13	Taiwan267	Haiti190	Taiwan187	Taiwan141	Bulgaria110
14	Liberia249	Taiwan184	Vietnam163	Mexico88	Poland102
15	Nigeria148	Mexico89	Mexico70	Poland73	Mexico89
16	Mexico103	Poland84	Poland67	Thailand72	Liberia86
17	Ghana101	Thailand67	Brazil66	Brazil66	Nepal73
18	Kyrgyzstan78	Kyrgyzstan61	Nepal66	Nigeria65	Nigeria71
19	Poland77	Brazil55	Nigeria62	Jamaica63	Brazil69
20	Thailand59	Uganda54	Thailand56	Nepal62	Thailand69

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I pray the you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints,to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Eph 3:17-19

More to come later!

Pequenopie “Little Feet” May 17, 2009

I’ve been struck with the many changes our family has encountered within the last six months. God has done so many changes in us and growth, that I look back and am shocked to see it. At the same time, we have so much freedom. We are enjoying these days we spend with our children. With our oldest it is twinkling of the eye, since she is getting married next year.  With our middle child it is precious moments , pretty soon she will be going to college, working and spending time out of our house. With our youngest we still have some time to make up. We were so busy and consumed with our ministry work, neglecting what we had at home. Even our extended families and our quiet time. It wasn’t until our girls sat us down, that we really took a hard look at our lives and said what the heck are we doing.

Since that we have realized that above else family should come first. Our girls come first, spending time with them, talking to them, just watching a movie with them. Laughing, crying, praying, life as God wanted it. He made families to be together, to break bread together. How sometimes we can put our jobs, our ministries, our everything above our family.

To have my sister tell me I’m glad you are back, that hurts. I promise myself, my family, God and those around me that I will never let this happen again. Taking that hard look, put everything in perspective. When I came back from China this last time,I knew something wasn’t right with our lives. I saw how stressed my husband was working a full-time job and then rushing off after a quick dinner. To have the time to have a nice dinner every night is so amazing, to sit and read a book, or watch a movie, together.

Obviously when we were in the thick of things we couldn’t see it. But when I came back from China I knew that our lives would have to change, how could we adopt a baby and be out almost every night. Not going to happen and not fair to our youngest to babysit every night.

Since getting a baby kitten I remember so much of what it takes to be a new mother and father again. Constantly having patience, correcting  that child. Our girls were into everything, your eyes always had to be on them. Touching things, putting things into their mouth, and a constant stream of No’s.. 

Teaching them manners, how to swim, how to ride a bike, everything. They learn everything from us. Keeping them safe, out of the street, teaching them rules, don’t touch that, don’t open that. Right now with our teens we are teaching them still, how to be young women, who will one day be wifes and mothers themselves. It is a big job but that is the duty we are entrusted with.

So while we continue on the passage, we will continue to enjoy everyday we have with our family and friends. We will continue to wait for this child that God has implanted on our hearts. This child that is so wanted and loved, even now.

Healing does not mean going back to the way things were before,
but rather allowing what is now to move us closer to God
— Ram Dass

Leave comments or scripture, would love to hear from you!

More to come later!

Pequenopie “Little Feet” May 9, 2009

It’s Mother’s Day weekend and in the United States we celebrate this special day and give tribute and honor to our Mother’s. I was surprised and didn’t realize that this great day was started in 1870 and a lady named Julia Ward Howe wrote a poem called Mother’s Day Proclamation of 1870. It was a call for disarmament and for women to come together to seek diplomatic ways to settle disagreements among Nations.

As I found this awesome picture of a Mother in Thailand I see other things. In Mother’s all over the world I see strength, love, truth, honor, integrity, and kindness. There are so many things to say about our Mother’s. They take on so much, they have to put others before themselves, there will be heartache. There is so much to prepare a child to walk into their own lives dependent of their moms. They get very little sleep when their child is a baby, they rock and cuddle that baby. I remember being in the Hospital after having Beka, my first child and hardly being with her and when the nurses were bringing all the babies to the mommies, and recognizing her cry. I knew that was her and it was, that God has given us a miracle to be a mom.

I also think of the millions of mom’s who can’t have their own children, from their own bodies. But if you see a Mother who has adopted a child, you would have no idea that, that child didn’t come from her body. My sister shows that clear as day, her little boy and her are Mother and son. That’s it, no difference between her daughter, that did come from her. They are both her children, that she loves with all her heart, body and soul. That she will worry about, have joy, concern and so much more.

No matter what country you live in, no matter what conditions you live in, Mothers are all the same. 

They love without expectation, without expecting anything back.

A friend in China that has been going through the adoption process for 4 1/2 years, just sent a letter,  telling everyone that by Fall she will be a Mother. What an awesome Mother’s Day gift for this year. After all her patience, tears, waiting, joy and hope she will be a Mother soon. The wait is almost over.

On this Mother’s Day, I hope and pray that the child our family wants to adopt, will not take too long to come to us. I hope and pray that maybe by the next Mother’s Day of 2010 we will be that much closer to bringing our child home. That once that child is put in my arms, the difference of my children and this new child will melt away. I pray for patience, for joy and peace through this whole thing. That we would trust in our Lord with all our heart and mind. That when it seems too difficult, too expensive, to hard, we would continue to look at what God has planted in our lives. That he is enough, he will do what he wishes.. That I can lean on him for my strength, my joy and my peace.

Ask and it will be give to you, seek and you will find,

knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks will receives, he who seeks finds,

and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8

So our family will continue to ask, seek and knock and wait on his timing, and will.

More to come later  and have a Happy Mother’s Day!

Pequenopie “Little Feet” April 26, 2009

This is a little boy or girl in Nepal who is a orphan now or at one time. Our family is excited and ready to start this difficult journey on to adopting and fulfilling the things that God wants in our lives.

We are at the very begining of the process and we are inviting friends and family to partner with us on this great journey. Please stay tune for further information.

More to come later!

April 23, 2009

WHO WILL SAVE THE CHILDREN?

Cry for all the innocent ones
born into a world
that’s lost its heart
For those who never
learn to dream
because their hope is crushed
before they can start
And we shake our fists
at the air
and say, “If God is love,
how can this be fair?”

But we are His hands
We are His voice
We are the ones who must
make the choice
And if it isn’t now,
tell me when?
If it isn’t you, then tell me
who will save the children?
Who will save the children?

We count our blessings one by one
yet we have forgotten how to give
It seems that we don’t want to face
all the hungry and homeless
who struggle to live
But heaven is watching tonight
tugging at our hearts
to do what’s right

And we are His hands
We are His voice
We are the ones who must
make the choice
And if it isn’t you, then tell me
who will save the children?
Who will save the children?

As we observe them through our T.V. screens
they seem so distant and unreal
But they bleed like we bleed
And they feel what we feel
Oh, save the children
Save the children
Save the children

Now we decide that nothing can change
and throw up our hands in numb despair
And we lost a piece of our souls
by teaching ourselves just
how not to care
But Christ would have gone to the cross
just to save one child from being lost

And we are His hands
We are His voice
We are the ones who must
make the choice
And it must be now
There’s no time to waste
It must be you
No one can take your place
Can’t you see that only we
Can save the children
Save the children
Save the children
Please, save the children

Written By Randy Stonehill
© Copyright 1984 by Stonehillian Music &
Word Music (a division of Word, Inc.)

Pequenopie “Little Feet” March 15, 2009

At the end of my trip in China, at Phillip Hayden Foundation, I ended up getting a very bad cold. Because many of the children and Sharon were in a hospital and many of the children were very sick, I was told I couldn’t be at the hospital. It is funny what God does to protect us, I was already concerned about leaving these children and not wanting to be heart-broken and prayed for God to protect my heart.

Philipipians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Well the fact that I got sick did protect my heart, I never was able to hold Sharon and say goodbye and I knew she was there and God has her in his hands. I was there for a few days and was able to still play, hold and minister to those children who were more healthy. God showed me all ages of orphans, not just babies, but 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, and 18 year olds.

When I got off that plane I was ready to be home, ready to be with my kids and husband, ready to share my experience and love for these  kids. I was still figuring out what God wanted me to do, or as a family to do. We could support a child financially, or support PHF financially, pray, or adopt. What was God trying to show me. I finally was back home and I shared my love for these children to those all around me, but didn’t share my heart, for adoption.  I had friends from the trip telling my husband that I would have taken Sharon home if they would’ve let me and I did say yes I would have.

But I thought I had hidden my heart and soul, how could I explain how I felt if I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t sure how to say it, how to put it in words, if God wanted this for us, how would Michael feel about this. I always felt it wouldn’t be fair to a spouse if  someone came home from Africa and said God is calling us there, without the other person  feeling the same call.

I did go through a hard time coming home, I was changed and still am. How can you not hold those babies and be changed. God is amazing and powerful, he is enough, to change my stubborn, afraid to change mindset. We were de-briefed when we came home and had a chance to share to the mission board, the things that we experienced and how God changed our views, even about the people and things we had thought about the culture.

I had people around me saying what’s wrong with you, are you ok. That was fine for a while but very annoying after a while. It’s a shame that people all over the world are praying for God to change them and when he does people think you are depressed or just don’t know what to do with you.

Matthew 18:3   And he said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven

Other people that have been on mission trips understand this change and don’t get me wrong, I was telling people that I am all right but haven’t figured out everything that God is doing in me. Sometimes when God changes us, it is a gradual thing, it may be a revealing of his heart in a situation, little by little and step by step. But  if he wants a true change, it won’t just be a passing thing, it will be hard. It will be hard to explain, it may change friendships, life, your family, your desires, your comfort, everything. Everything that you put importance to or thought you were.

I just want to be one who is obedient to what God is calling us to.

John 14:15  If you love me, you will obey what I command.

Philippians 2:13  For it is God who works in you  to will and to act according to his good purpose.

More to come later!

Leave comments or scriptures on this blog…

Pequenopie “Little Feet” March 5, 2009

This is Diana holding little Tristan at Phillip Hayden Foundation. He is one of the little babies there, that have cleft lip. He was such a happy baby, who jumped like crazy in his little jumper seat and always smiled his big silly grin.

Just a baby who wants and needs love. These kids had our hearts wrapped around their little fingers. We wanted to hold and be with them as much as we could every day.

 We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.
But those who make their journey home across time & miles,
growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,
are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us
by God’s very own hands.
— Kristi Larson

God can change our hearts instantly, radically different, to show us his heart and to direct our lives. I know without a doubt, that he is the one orchestrating all this change in me and my heart. I also know that it was very evident that he was doing things to me, changing me. Never would I say that I would want another child, I thought that our family was complete. That to have children in our home again, they would be our grandchildren.

Well, never say never. When God wants you to step out, he will do the work, he will be the one in charge. My husband and I have prayer to be changed, well God answers prayers. It was hard coming back home, even though after two weeks, I was missing my family very much.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.  Ephesians 1:4,5

 

More to come later!

Pequeno pie “Little Feet” January 30, 2009

As of the last post I wrote about the mission trip to Phillip Hayden. I held, played, laughed, prayed and had my heart changed by these amazing children. I was there for two weeks, loving on them and missing them so much when we were doing other things.

There is a little boy named Tristan, that has a cleft lip.. He is such a happy baby. He would swing in the swing, in the nursery and it would really get going. He smiled and would have his whole fist in his mouth.. Just a baby that has a defect, that wants to be wanted. He needs to be needed. That needs to be loved and love.

Kennedy is a little boy who sat in a stroller all the time with a very large head… He was so sweet and very quickly we all cared and loved this little boy. One day he was in his room with his nanny and Diana (another missionary on the trip) and I, went in there. Very quickly he started singing to us in chinese. Diana was clapping her hands with his inside of hers.. It touched both of our hearts so heavy.

Both of these boys may be adopted, they may not. It depends on the government, even if a family falls in love with these boys, it’s the governments decision. I would have taken both of these boys home with me, if I could have. The nannies show these children so much love. They are their mommies in every sense of the way. The nannies take care of them, feed them, play with them, put them down to sleep and love them, just like a mommy would.

There is hope for these two precious boys. There is hope for them to get the surgeries their bodies need and hope for a family. A family that God has called for them to adopt. To not be stopped by the economy, by any of those things. To know that there are children that just need to be loved. If every Christian adopted there would be no orphans. Jesus adopted us, in our sin, knowing that we were dirty and sinful. He loves us so much.

Here is Phillip Hayden’s website, for $35.00 a month you can sponsor one of these beautiful precious babes, one of these miracle wonders of God.

“Whoever recieves one such child in my name recieves me.” Matthew —18:5

http://www.chinaorphans.org/

More to come later!