Pequenopie “Little Feet” October 28, 2009

A MOTHER’S LOVE

A Mother’s love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God’s tender guiding hand.

~Helen Steiner Rice~

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Pequenopie “Little Feet” October 25, 2009

A year ago today, I was in China loving this little baby Sharon. I had gotten a really bad cold while I was there and it was one of our last days to see the children. I wasn’t able to see Sharon anymore since I didn’t want her and other children, to get my cold. She was in the hospital at Shepards’ Field, and there were some children that had very serious health conditions.  So I was able to hang out with and enjoy some of the older children, that were more healthy.

I remember how bad I felt with this cold and how I had prayed for God to protect my heart, and I think he helped out in that part of  it. Even then I was knowing we were leaving soon and ready to go home and be with my family but also knowing how hard it would be. To leave these amazing children and maybe knowing I would never hold or see little Sharon again. Even then every one on my team and other teams around us, saw my heart when it came to how I felt about Sharon. I think we all had our favorites but something was different for me.

I knew God was showing me a love for these orphans and how our family could love one of these.

 

We had a very interesting call this week, from our friend Tiffany, who is a foster adoption mom that is on her way to adopting her daughter. She had called me in August to tell me her daughter’s birth mom was pregnant, and then talked about maybe this little child coming into our home. I didn’t really give it much thought, because Tiffany isn’t in charge of where the kids go. Anyway, this call from her this week was that the birth mother had another girl and that Tiffany is foster caring her. Also that she talked to the guy who’s in charge of where the children go and mentioned us and he remembered us and liked us. The most important part is that Tiffany told him about keeping this new baby in the family. Meaning our family. Tiffany hopes to foster care this new baby until we get our license and then we could get her. The guy told Tiffany that he is willing to work with us. How amazing to think we could both have children in our home that are sisters, that we could keep them in contact with each other. Raising these two sisters together.

Of course part of me is shouting from the mountain tops, so excited and can’t wait to see this little one. But the other part of me, wants to protect my heart and wants to talk to the agency and get confirmation that yes this is their wishes also. It’s so funny cause the rational part of me is watching the excited,  jumping out of her skin, ready to be a new mommy. I have been giving myself permission to be happy and silly about it. I went to target this week after hearing about this little one and it was really hard to not buy stuff for the baby. I saw the cutest Christmas hats and had to make myself walk away.

We had friends over last night and when he brought up the baby, Dennis said gosh you have a look on your face. I think this is the mommy face, the face that I had when I came home from China and was trying to give Michael space and time. To not demand that we adopt, but giving him time to have God show him. To also give myself time to really make sure,  I was sure. After a year of this, I am sure.  Day by day I am more sure, ready and willing.

I also know that God does things, changes us in a moment. He can do anything he wants and performs miracles everyday. When I look back at how my sister and her son Matthew became hers , it was  a miracle, a total God thing.  My daughter was friends with a little girl in preschool and if I hadn’t talked about my sister and some things she went through, with a friend of this mother, than who knows what would have happened. I don’t even know why this conversation happened, all I can say is it was amazing and I will never forget how he can make things  work out. 

We ask all of our family and friends to come along beside us with your prayers. That whether it is this child or another, we will pray for this little one and all the other little ones, that need families. I will continue to love baby Sharon with a mothers love, for her to find a family that can give her everything. I will continue to pray for her and have hope for our little one, wherever she is,  for us to pour our love on.

Pour my love on you, by Phillips Craig and Dean

Like oil upon your feet
Like wine for you to drink
Life water from my heart
I pour my love on you
With praises like the perfume
I lavish mine on you
Till every drop is gone
I pour my love on you
Is there a way to show the passion in my heart
Can I express how truly great I think you are,
My dearest friend
Lord this is my desire to pour my love on you

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

More to come later!

Pequenopie “Little Feet” October 21, 2009

An Adopted Child Is Made Up Of….

An Adopted Child is made up of…

Yesterday’s Memories

We didn’t know you when your life began.

But, through God’s grace we were brought together.

We treasured the opportunity to bring you into our world.

We knew you were meant to be ours and fell in love instantly.

An Adopted Child is made up of…

Today’s Love

We laugh. We talk. We cry. We share. We love.

Although we had to learn about each other.

We truly have become a family.

As your parents, we have fond memories of the child that came to us.

And we look forward to the person you are becoming.


An Adopted Child is made up of…

Tomorrow’s Dreams

We proudly watch as you learn to make your way.

You will take all the experiences you’ve had in your life

And create the fondation on which your dreams will stand.

Everyday you become wiser.
Everyday you are stronger.

We pray that life will be good to you.
And, always remember,

We thank God each day for bringing you to our family…..
—Unknown

Pequenopie “Little Feet” October 17, 2009

One year ago our team was in China, falling in love with the children and the people of China. I can’t believe it’s only been a year, in some ways it seems like yesterday. Also it seems like years ago. My heart is still there and hopes some day to go back.

 In this picture our team was on the Great Wall of China, what an amazing, almost unbelievable memory and experience of history, culture and breathtaking beauty. To actually walk in a place you never thought in your life that you would ever see, let alone stand and walk on its steps.

The  most important part of this mission trip, were the children. It wasn’t about where we visited, even though it was great to see China, to see the people, to walk down the street’s smelling the smells and being a part of it all. Our minds and hearts were on those children the whole time we were touring around.

 

 

 Steven Curtis Chapman, When love takes you in

 

 I know youve heard the stories
But they all sound too good to be true
Youve heard about a place called home
But there doesnt seem to be one for you
So one more night you cry yourself to sleep
And drift off to a distant dream

 

Where love takes you in and everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in

 

 

 And somewhere while youre sleeping
Someone else is dreaming too
Counting down the days until
They hold you close and say I love you
And like the rain that falls into the sea
In a moment what has been is lost in what will be

 

  When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart

And this love will never let you go
There is nothing that could ever cause this love to lose its hold

 

 

When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in it takes you in for good
When love takes you in

 

I thank the Lord that he sent me to China to have been taken in by love. To have everything we thought changed, to have a miracle come into our life.  To open up our home and hearts to this little one, to new beginnings, a new loving family for her. That everyday we see our hearts and this dream coming closer and closer. To see my youngest, see the new crib and say “mom I’m so excited”.   To be a family that will change this childs life, to give a belonging to her.

A year later and we are closer than we have ever been. We are on our way, I am thankful for this. I am thankful to be able to have held and loved each one of those beautiful children in China. I am thankful that God opened something in my heart. I am thankful that my husband, and children are behind us and happy and excited. I am thankful for family and friends being supportive and loving. I am thankful that after a year my heart and soul is still knowing this is right for us. I am also thankful that I am so excited and ready for this..

More to come later!

 

 

 

 

 

Pequenopie “Little Feet” October 14, 2009

 

IF A CHILD….

If a child lives with criticism,
he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility,
he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule,
he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame,
he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance,
he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement,
he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise,
he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness,
he learns justice.
If a child lives with security,
he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval,
he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
He learns to find love in the world.

–Author Unknown

Pequenopie “Little Feet” October 11, 2009

This picture reminds me of Michael dancing with his girls, their feet planted on his. Such a sweet memory, I’m sure we all have wonderful memories of the things we did with our children, or even grandchildren. I like to put the music up really loud when I clean the house and I used to grab the girls and start dancing with them. In fact I still am known to do this with our teenagers, who just love it when mom is being silly and crazy.

I remember my dad swinging the girls around, getting down on his hands and knees, playing with them, being grandpa. I also have such fond memories of my Grandpa Corey(sorry grandma ) clicking his false teeth in out of his mouth and also the smell of him smoking his pipe. I still can smell it. So many precious moments of family, fun and love. Of belonging, of just being a child and loving life. Taking our kids to the pumpkin patch and carving a pumpkin. All these traditions that are started in families and the traditions keep on going when your children, have their children.

It is so awesome and great how things work out and are continuing to work out. God changed me in China, I came home just wanting to adopt from China, knowing it would take years. Then slowly in time, we saw another avenue, another way. Orphans in our own country, our own state. Babies that just need a family and love, just like all the other babies all over the world.

All along I was worried about all the cost and everyone told me, God put this in your heart, if he wants this for you he will provide. He continues to surprise me every day. In his timing he changed our direction on adopting a local child, which ended up being perfect, with the economy and everyone struggling around us. How could we ask people to help us, when they are loosing their jobs and houses?  Then our oldest daughter got married, which made it possible for us to foster adopt much quicker and we would have the room for another child.

Step by step he has opened each door, each opportunity, and made it possible to walk forward. Even with foster adoption we do have some fees to pay, like police clearances, physicals for each of us and tb testing. Michael has worked many years and only a few times in those 20 plus years has he been able to bring home extra money from side work. This year already it’s been three side jobs. Which is making it possible for us to pay some of these fees and to be able to purchase a crib.

Yes, I bought a crib this week. One step at a time, we will get there. I look back at our marriage of 22 years and see times of difficulty and joy but I also see lessons and times of trimming things down. We  were never  hungry, our children were always happy and we always had a roof over our head and we’ve always had each other. He has always provided for us and has taught us what really matters. God,  family,  friends, love , joy, peace and faith.

Romans 8:28    All things work together for good, to them that are the called according to his purpose

More to come later!

 

Pequenopie “Little Feet” October 7, 2009

Baby Poem

Babies are Angels that fly to the earth,

their wings disappear at the time of their birth

one look in their eyes and we’re never the same

They’re part of us now and that part has a name

That part is your heart and a bond that won’t sever

our Babies are Angels, we love them forever.

~Unknown~