Thank you, sweet Jesus, for answered prayers!!!
Adulting
2 years ago
Thursday, April 30, 2009
It is time!
We are off to get our son!! Please pray for us and him!!!
Thank you, sweet Jesus, for answered prayers!!!
Thank you, sweet Jesus, for answered prayers!!!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thailand adventure!
It happened, we got to Thailand! What an amazing adventure!!
We left Monday early afternoon. We had a measly little 57 minute flight first. Half way into that flight I was not too sure if I was going to be able to get on the next flight.
Yes, I have flown before. In fact we have done that same 57 minute flight many times. Every time we have ever flown anywhere. It is a must when you live in the middle of nowhere. (Something we do actually enjoy!)
I was letting panic take over. I am not afraid of flying at all. I don't get too disturbed by turbulence. But if I think too much about the fact that I am STUCK on that plane with nowhere to go.....well, I can start to panic. As in hyperventilate.
I had been heading that way in my thinking by Saturday, but on Sunday it disappeared. You see, at church on Sunday the homily given was written just for me. I know, you say there were alot of other parishioners there, but seriously, God gave him that homily for me. I hope no one was too hurt by that, but boy did it help me! ;)) Isn't it amazing when that happens! God can make you feel so special in a group of many, like He is speaking directly to you.
I will admit all that was gone by Monday afternoon. We were up in the air, the flight was fine, not even bumpy, and BAM, the feeling hit. Like a ton of bricks. I kept it to myself, for a little bit. Then I whispered to Papa....I don't think I am going to be able to get on the next plane.
Papa did a great job of working it out with me. He said something that I was able to quickly dispute. But then he really knew what to say...."I'll get you on that plane if I have to, it just won't be really pretty".
In a really sweet voice I promise!
By the time we landed we had such a short time to get to our next flight and needed to grab lunch, there was no time for panic.
We were off!
We shared hip space with a nice gal from Austin, TX, orginally from Kansas. We chatted a little, Papa and I watched 3 straight hours of Friends Season 1 episodes. It was great! We listened to Friends in one ear and a little girl seated in front of us singing in Japanese with the other!! She and her sister were adorable.
Reality really started to set in as we were boarding the plane when we, as caucasians, realized we were among the minority. It prompted us to have a conversation about the changes our sweet son would be under going very soon. It was the first time for us to be in a situation where we really had no idea what anybody was saying. What an eye opener!
12 hours is long. Not doubt about it, however it did go much better than I had anticipated. Things like this....
Pictures taken from in the airplane as we were flying over Canada! Aren't they just incredible!!
We had daylight the whole 12 hour flight! Unfortunately all we had over Alaska was clouds.
Pictures taken from in the airplane as we were flying over Canada! Aren't they just incredible!!
We had daylight the whole 12 hour flight! Unfortunately all we had over Alaska was clouds.
As we were preparing to land in Tokyo, the captain had a few interesting things to say that invloves this picture. See if you might know and I will be back tomorrow to tell you all about it!
Ok, so there was 2 pics of the snow capped mountains and my signature use to be there but I am on a borrowed computer that doesn't listen very well to me. ;)) And it is late here. And we get to meet our son in the morning...or really just a few hours from now because it is morning!!!! So surreal, I can't believe it!! Please pray i can go to sleep now!
Good night!
Megan
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
It's all in the eyes
I have been thinking about the adventure we are about to embark on for quite some time lately. (Nothing like an extra 2 weeks to contemplate it all!!) For our first 2 adoptions, our children were escorted to the US. This will be the first of many for me.
It will be my first time seeing the birth country of my child. It will be the first time I have ever been in a third world country. It will be the first time I have ever seen or been in an orphanage. It will be the first time I will be physically taking my child from his birth country.
You see, I love little ones, babies and children. I always imagined I would have a large family. I love adoption. I believe very strongly every child deserves a home. I cry easily at those commercials showing hungry children, children in need of surgery, children in need of someone to call Mom and Dad. It is in the eyes for me. There is no way for the eyes to hide that sadness, that need, that hunger....for love, affection, attention.
And I want to do something about that for them all.
Going to the orphanage and leaving with only 1 child is going to be difficult for me.
There is our sweet son's best friend. We have pictures and video of the 2 of them that is priceless! According to those that visited, they are best buddies. His family is desperately waiting STILL for their referral and he has known since last year as well that he has a family. These 2 little boys are family to each other and my heart hurts thinking about the separation. I pray we get to spend time with both of them to make lasting memories for the boys. I am so thankful we "know" his family and will be in contact.
Seeing all the children waiting for a family and wondering how many will not ever get one is heart-wrenching now. And I haven't even been there yet to see those eyes. It is hard to look at the statistics--@59 Thai children came home to the US in 2008, Munchkin #3 has over 320 in the Babies Home of his orphanage. (Age 0-5, he has been held there to wait for us!)
Yet, I know I want to witness it all. It is my son's home, has been for the past 8 years. I would love to spend many days playing at the orphanage with all the children. I could honestly spend the whole two weeks there!
I have also had this deep inner feeling the last few weeks. A need to spend more time with Jesus, talking, praying, reading. I have felt almost like nothing else matters but opening myself up to Him. I feel God is leading me on a path. A specific path. I want to be open to His will for this trip, these experiences. I have always wanted to be able to share my passion for adoption with others. To encourage others to seek out adoption as a way to grow their family, as a way to serve and love God, a way to love thy neighbor. I pray I am able to absorb it all, keep it close to my heart and use it in a way that will glorify God and help orphans.
4 days to departure!!
It will be my first time seeing the birth country of my child. It will be the first time I have ever been in a third world country. It will be the first time I have ever seen or been in an orphanage. It will be the first time I will be physically taking my child from his birth country.
You see, I love little ones, babies and children. I always imagined I would have a large family. I love adoption. I believe very strongly every child deserves a home. I cry easily at those commercials showing hungry children, children in need of surgery, children in need of someone to call Mom and Dad. It is in the eyes for me. There is no way for the eyes to hide that sadness, that need, that hunger....for love, affection, attention.
And I want to do something about that for them all.
Going to the orphanage and leaving with only 1 child is going to be difficult for me.
There is our sweet son's best friend. We have pictures and video of the 2 of them that is priceless! According to those that visited, they are best buddies. His family is desperately waiting STILL for their referral and he has known since last year as well that he has a family. These 2 little boys are family to each other and my heart hurts thinking about the separation. I pray we get to spend time with both of them to make lasting memories for the boys. I am so thankful we "know" his family and will be in contact.
Seeing all the children waiting for a family and wondering how many will not ever get one is heart-wrenching now. And I haven't even been there yet to see those eyes. It is hard to look at the statistics--@59 Thai children came home to the US in 2008, Munchkin #3 has over 320 in the Babies Home of his orphanage. (Age 0-5, he has been held there to wait for us!)
Yet, I know I want to witness it all. It is my son's home, has been for the past 8 years. I would love to spend many days playing at the orphanage with all the children. I could honestly spend the whole two weeks there!
I have also had this deep inner feeling the last few weeks. A need to spend more time with Jesus, talking, praying, reading. I have felt almost like nothing else matters but opening myself up to Him. I feel God is leading me on a path. A specific path. I want to be open to His will for this trip, these experiences. I have always wanted to be able to share my passion for adoption with others. To encourage others to seek out adoption as a way to grow their family, as a way to serve and love God, a way to love thy neighbor. I pray I am able to absorb it all, keep it close to my heart and use it in a way that will glorify God and help orphans.
4 days to departure!!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wonderful Plans
We have re-booked our tickets! We leave on April 27th to attend the May 6th meeting!! Thank you, God! Still hunting for a hotel, first hotel doesn't have availability for this stay.
We will return home on May 12th. Peanut's Homecoming day is May 11th, so we will have 2 to celebrate right in a row!
What blessed parents we are!
I am so overwhelmed when I think about how God knew these little beings were to be our children. To know His plan for our family extends to the other side of the world, to women who found themselves in very difficult situations, women who made choices that I can only imagine crushed their hearts, loved their children enough to carry them to term and make an adoption plan for them. I would never presume to say it was the best plan for their child, that they would have a better chance at life. In my opinion, my children have lost much. The loss of biological family is real, no matter how young they are adopted or how much we love them. They lose their birth country, family history, ability to look for their biological parents (in most cases), have extra identity questions related to adoption, etc.......It takes strong children to be able to handle all the aspects involved in being an adopted child in a multi-cultural family. Knowing God as we do from David in Psalm 139:13-16:
For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
there is no question He has given my children exactly what they need to handle life. He knew His plan for them when He was knitting them in their first Mother's womb. To lean on the words, fearfully and wonderfully made and skillfully wrought gives me faith my children are well prepared to face all parts of their life and succeed!
Thank you, God for giving us our family and for reminding me Your plan for my life IS a precious one.
We will return home on May 12th. Peanut's Homecoming day is May 11th, so we will have 2 to celebrate right in a row!
What blessed parents we are!
I am so overwhelmed when I think about how God knew these little beings were to be our children. To know His plan for our family extends to the other side of the world, to women who found themselves in very difficult situations, women who made choices that I can only imagine crushed their hearts, loved their children enough to carry them to term and make an adoption plan for them. I would never presume to say it was the best plan for their child, that they would have a better chance at life. In my opinion, my children have lost much. The loss of biological family is real, no matter how young they are adopted or how much we love them. They lose their birth country, family history, ability to look for their biological parents (in most cases), have extra identity questions related to adoption, etc.......It takes strong children to be able to handle all the aspects involved in being an adopted child in a multi-cultural family. Knowing God as we do from David in Psalm 139:13-16:
For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
there is no question He has given my children exactly what they need to handle life. He knew His plan for them when He was knitting them in their first Mother's womb. To lean on the words, fearfully and wonderfully made and skillfully wrought gives me faith my children are well prepared to face all parts of their life and succeed!
Thank you, God for giving us our family and for reminding me Your plan for my life IS a precious one.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Munchkin #3
He would be with us at this time. If there had been no increased violence in the protests. If the DSDW social worker would have still met with us. If we had gone anyway.
Many ifs. Trying hard not to think about those. Focusing on the here and now. And the fact our son will be home.
I stumbled across this yesterday....God knew I needed this. I adore Blessed Mother Teresa, always have. I have heard versions of this before but never from the mouth of someone like her.
Please pray we hear today that we are able to travel to the next meeting scheduled for May6th. I can't imagine waiting all weekend before we might hear something.
Many ifs. Trying hard not to think about those. Focusing on the here and now. And the fact our son will be home.
I stumbled across this yesterday....God knew I needed this. I adore Blessed Mother Teresa, always have. I have heard versions of this before but never from the mouth of someone like her.
"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Please pray we hear today that we are able to travel to the next meeting scheduled for May6th. I can't imagine waiting all weekend before we might hear something.
Serious.Life Magazine--Check it out!
I wanted you to know about this publication I’m a part of called Serious.Life Magazine. They just published a new issue and I am in their Featured Blog Directory. It’s a very high quality magazine… you’ll really like it.
The magazine includes a lot of great content from bloggers you’ll appreciate, as well as great features, photos and other content. The magazine is owned and published by a family who have seven kids, three adopted and one who has Leukemia (www.riggsfamilyblog.com). The magazine gives away a bunch of ads to charities and ministries. Besides great articles on interesting people, there is a lot about family, adoption, personal finance, spiritual life, humor… all sorts of “life” topics.
This magazine is perfect! No papers to recycle or have laying around the house, cluttering up our life space!! And it is FREE, can't beat that, right?!! Check it out....www.seriouslifemagazine.com
The magazine includes a lot of great content from bloggers you’ll appreciate, as well as great features, photos and other content. The magazine is owned and published by a family who have seven kids, three adopted and one who has Leukemia (www.riggsfamilyblog.com). The magazine gives away a bunch of ads to charities and ministries. Besides great articles on interesting people, there is a lot about family, adoption, personal finance, spiritual life, humor… all sorts of “life” topics.
This magazine is perfect! No papers to recycle or have laying around the house, cluttering up our life space!! And it is FREE, can't beat that, right?!! Check it out....www.seriouslifemagazine.com
Monday, April 13, 2009
Travel delay
We have made the decision to put off our travel for tomorrow. We hoped to delay for a few days and travel on Friday or Saturday this week to still make our scheduled meeting on the 22nd. We felt that would allow for some of the unrest to subside and move to safer travel. However, the cost of changing our one ticket (non-adoption fare) was $1800, double the original cost of our ticket!! Not really workable, unfortunately.
We had to put emotion out of the equation and that was not easy to do. Papa and I both appreciated our agency's Asian countries director taking time to talk with us today. At the end, I very much appreciated her comments telling us we needed to not second guess ourselves after we made the decision. She said we needed to know either decision was wise. It is difficult not to second guess and it was VERY difficult to call our travel agent and cancel our flights.
We do know we will bring our son home. It is very disappointing to be waiting again. It is frustrating our expenses are rising and that it is even an issue.
I am thankful we were able to make a decision we both feel as comfortable as is possible in this situation. Prayers offered on our behalf gave us the direction and answers we were seeking. Thank you for taking our needs to our Lord and if you are so inclined, please continue to pray for peace in Thailand and a quick invite to the next meeting for us.
God will bring our son home! We will be victorious!!
Blessings to you all in this joyous Easter season~
We had to put emotion out of the equation and that was not easy to do. Papa and I both appreciated our agency's Asian countries director taking time to talk with us today. At the end, I very much appreciated her comments telling us we needed to not second guess ourselves after we made the decision. She said we needed to know either decision was wise. It is difficult not to second guess and it was VERY difficult to call our travel agent and cancel our flights.
We do know we will bring our son home. It is very disappointing to be waiting again. It is frustrating our expenses are rising and that it is even an issue.
I am thankful we were able to make a decision we both feel as comfortable as is possible in this situation. Prayers offered on our behalf gave us the direction and answers we were seeking. Thank you for taking our needs to our Lord and if you are so inclined, please continue to pray for peace in Thailand and a quick invite to the next meeting for us.
God will bring our son home! We will be victorious!!
Blessings to you all in this joyous Easter season~
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Magic Sam
The last 24 hours have been difficult here at our home. Last night I had the unfortunate task of telling Peanut and Bug it was time for our beloved dog, Sam to be put down. We have known he was sick, but no one is ever really ready, are they? We didn't realize how sick until an appt. yesterday with our vet. God's timing is, of course, perfect because he didn't have much time and if allowed to progress naturally, would not have been "pretty".
I know there are many things worse than this happening to many other people. I have spent the last day and a half working to remind myself that he was "just" a dog. But to us he was more. Sam is the first(and only)pet Papa and I have chosen together. I brought a dog into the marriage. We brought Sam into our home at the same time reality of our infertility came to a head. Papa works a late shift, so Sam is here with me when I hear a noise. If he didn't react, I knew I didn't have to.
As difficult as it was to hear my daughter, kneeling before her crucifix, crying out to Jesus to save her Sammy, I am encouraged by her ability to offer everything to Him. There was no hesitation in her turning to Him many times throughout last night and today. She has been able to cry to Him why, help me and and please take away these sorrows. I am so thankful God has brought me to my knees, allowing me to know Him, in turn allowing my children to know Him. Where would we be without Him? I do not want to know.
So today, we shared a snack with our faithful friend. Pretzels he learned to take from our lips, and M & M's he learned to love after he ate an entire bowl of special birthday colors for Bug 2 years ago. Then Peanut, Bug and I went shopping for our suitcase donations for the orphanage. (Papa took Sam to the vet) We came home with quite a few other items too. My kids don't really even ask for stuff, I just got things for them. ($5 light sabers, hair do dads) It really doesn't make things better. We still came home to an empty house......and an empty wallet.
Thank you for allowing me to share this totally off topic story.
Tomorrow we'll be back to our regularly scheduled adoption.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Ready?
Seven days from right now, we will be on a plane, 9 hours in to our journey to the other side of the world.
Eight days from right now, we will be heading to the orphanage to meet our son!
I have moments where I am feeling well-prepared, on track with my to-do-lists. Yes, there are things to do, but it feels like it continues to come together more and more each day. I realize there will always be a list of things to do and some things on my list are not necessary. Though I must figure out what clothes I have to pack and what I might still need to buy! I seem to keep putting that one off and I am sure it should be considered a high priority!! ;))
Then I have moments where I wonder what I am thinking! I feel like I am missing something BIG, I am way too calm to be leaving the country for 15 days, leaving my 2 kids and bringing home a child who doesn't speak my language. I should be running around frantic about something, I feel.
Yet, I am not. And those above moments are fleeting.
Throughout the last few years, there have been times when God has given me complete peace when I could be really stressed. Or worried. God has allowed me to rest in Him, knowing that what is important, needed for my family will be done. He will provide, He will allow me to breathe, be the wife/mother I need to be if I trust in Him. Often in surrendering my "wants" or what I believe to be the path/plan to His will allows me freedom to enjoy it all so much more. I rest in Him, knowing full well the plans He has for me are so much more than I could ever imagine.
The Psalms 91
I thank God for the peace that surrounds me and the knowledge that He is my rock. I give Him praise that we will have another little soul to raise to know, to love and to serve Him.
Now for that, I am ready!
Eight days from right now, we will be heading to the orphanage to meet our son!
I have moments where I am feeling well-prepared, on track with my to-do-lists. Yes, there are things to do, but it feels like it continues to come together more and more each day. I realize there will always be a list of things to do and some things on my list are not necessary. Though I must figure out what clothes I have to pack and what I might still need to buy! I seem to keep putting that one off and I am sure it should be considered a high priority!! ;))
Then I have moments where I wonder what I am thinking! I feel like I am missing something BIG, I am way too calm to be leaving the country for 15 days, leaving my 2 kids and bringing home a child who doesn't speak my language. I should be running around frantic about something, I feel.
Yet, I am not. And those above moments are fleeting.
Throughout the last few years, there have been times when God has given me complete peace when I could be really stressed. Or worried. God has allowed me to rest in Him, knowing that what is important, needed for my family will be done. He will provide, He will allow me to breathe, be the wife/mother I need to be if I trust in Him. Often in surrendering my "wants" or what I believe to be the path/plan to His will allows me freedom to enjoy it all so much more. I rest in Him, knowing full well the plans He has for me are so much more than I could ever imagine.
The Psalms 91
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High
| |||||
| 2 | I will say of the LORD,
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| 3 | Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
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| 4 | He shall cover thee with his feathers,
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| 5 | Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;
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| 6 | nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness;
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| 7 | A thousand shall fall at thy side,
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| 8 | Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold
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| 9 | Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge,
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| 10 | there shall no evil befall thee,
| ||||
| 11 | For he shall give his angels charge over thee, Mt. 4.6 · Lk. 4.10
| ||||
| 12 | They shall bear thee up in their hands,
| ||||
| 13 | Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder:
| ||||
| 14 | Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:
| ||||
| 15 | He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:
| ||||
| 16 | With long life will I satisfy him,
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I thank God for the peace that surrounds me and the knowledge that He is my rock. I give Him praise that we will have another little soul to raise to know, to love and to serve Him.
Now for that, I am ready!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Nesting and diet coke
It has been way too long! You would think we had just decided to adopt! Not like we had umpteen months where we could have been preparing!
We are set with airfare and hotel. Yipee!
Just in case we didn't have enough going on like preparing to be gone for 15 days, leave our kids with grandparents for 15 days, leave school to do, we decided to add in refinancing the house and spring cleaning/gutting every room of the house.
I also decided last week Tues or Wed, I should give up my beloved diet coke. And when I say beloved, I mean BELOVED. I have had a serious love affair with diet coke for a very long time. I am thrilled with some results of giving it up but I must admit I did not have any clue how crabby it was going to make me! What bad timing. What was I thinking!!!
All in all, I should have no problem sleeping on the plane as I am up early in the am and up late at night. With no caffeine in between! I have many things I would like to have done/ready for when we get home. Papa is going to be home for 2 more weeks after we get back from Thailand and we really want to enjoy being together as a new family of five!
7 days and counting!
We are set with airfare and hotel. Yipee!
Just in case we didn't have enough going on like preparing to be gone for 15 days, leave our kids with grandparents for 15 days, leave school to do, we decided to add in refinancing the house and spring cleaning/gutting every room of the house.
I also decided last week Tues or Wed, I should give up my beloved diet coke. And when I say beloved, I mean BELOVED. I have had a serious love affair with diet coke for a very long time. I am thrilled with some results of giving it up but I must admit I did not have any clue how crabby it was going to make me! What bad timing. What was I thinking!!!
All in all, I should have no problem sleeping on the plane as I am up early in the am and up late at night. With no caffeine in between! I have many things I would like to have done/ready for when we get home. Papa is going to be home for 2 more weeks after we get back from Thailand and we really want to enjoy being together as a new family of five!
7 days and counting!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
A Gift
I recently go*gled the name of the orphanage where our son is living. A choice came up on Flic*r (which I knew had pictures) and a comment about it being where their son had spent his first 6 years.
Could it be? Was their son living there at the same time? As I was clicking on the link, I was trying to calculate how old my son had been the year they picked up their son. The second pic I looked at had about 8 toddlers in it. My brain was still trying to figure out my son's age that year. (OK, please remember I usually am on late at night!!) I finally did realize he would not have been that young, DUH........Then the next picture, I quickly scanned the "older" kids standing around. WHOA..........That's MY son!! A picture of him peeking out from behind a caretaker. I can't believe it, another picture of my sweet son at a one point in his life. Pictures of his first years will be so few, so this is such a TREASURE!
I have emailed the person and I hope maybe they have more!
Could it be? Was their son living there at the same time? As I was clicking on the link, I was trying to calculate how old my son had been the year they picked up their son. The second pic I looked at had about 8 toddlers in it. My brain was still trying to figure out my son's age that year. (OK, please remember I usually am on late at night!!) I finally did realize he would not have been that young, DUH........Then the next picture, I quickly scanned the "older" kids standing around. WHOA..........That's MY son!! A picture of him peeking out from behind a caretaker. I can't believe it, another picture of my sweet son at a one point in his life. Pictures of his first years will be so few, so this is such a TREASURE!
I have emailed the person and I hope maybe they have more!
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