Chloe's dream

One of the funest things I do with my girls is compare our dreams.

Yes, it most certainly develops into a contest but what creativity these young girls have.

One dream of Chloe's is to be a football player.

Chloe came home to us last year at the start of football season. Chloe liked no one but BaBa at the start of football season last year. Chloe developed a love for football like her BaBa.

She wants to be a football player.

If you have not heard me talk about "little" Chloe's size, she is quite petite. She can wear some 18 month clothes and most 2T clothes. She would never be a linebacker but what mom wants their son to be a linebacker?

I read another adoptive mom's blog this morning and was so touched by this video.

We are only limited by our imagination and our determination.


The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen. --Elisabeth Kübler-Ross




May He bless you richly,
Amy

Sugar and spice and everything nice?

The way you see yourself now, as a grown woman, was shaped early in your life, in the years when you were a little girl. Women learn from their mothers what it means to be a woman, and from their fathers the value that a woman has - the value they have as a woman. If a woman is comfortable with her own femininity, her beauty, her strength, then the chances are good that her daughter will be too.

From our mothers we receive many, many things but foremost above them all is mercy and tenderness. When my sons were young and got hurt, their dad would say something encouraging like "cool wound." I would cradle them in my arms and tend their injury. Our mothers show us the merciful face of God. We are nurtured at their breasts and cradled in their arms. They rock us to sleep and sing us lullabies. Our youngest years are lived within the proximity of their apron strings and they care for us in all the meanings of the word. When we get hurt, moms kiss us and make it better.

Little girls need the tender strength of their fathers. They need to know that their daddies are strong and will protect them; they need to know that their fathers are for them.

From them, we learn that we are delighted in, that we are special or that we are not. How a father relates to his daughter has an enormous effect on her soul - for good or for evil. (Captivating, 61-62)

So, what if we did not have a mother or father that was able to do this for us? Maybe, hopefully, you had an aunt and uncle or grandmother and grandfather who were able to help with this role, no? Some may have had school teachers, neighbors, church members to step in and fill the gap. Some, maybe not.

Sadly too many do not. I was one of those children. I tell you this because I have been struggling with my posts. Posts that I did not want to come across as me being proud of "adopting" and "advocating".

It took many years for my heavenly Father to work in my life the things He has done. The healing that I needed and continue to need. It will take many more years for Him to complete His work in me. It is only by the grace of God that I have the blessings of a husband and children who love me. Would I want to relive my childhood again?

Selfishly, NO!

However, I know my childhood has given the heart wrenching desire to make sure no child ever has to feel the feelings I have felt and still struggle with to some degree today.

I feel like I know the heart of the orphans and my heart breaks several times a day as I long to make a difference in their lives.

So, the next time you run across an opportunity to donate to a cause that supports orphans, would you please consider giving. Or the next time you run into a child or teenager that seems to have built a wall around themselves for protection, please take the time to let them know they matter.

Lord, please fulfill the longings of my heart so I may bring glory to Your Name and Your Name alone.

Your humble servant,
Amy

Someone able to put words to the the voices within my heart

This is a quote from another blog, one of my favorite blogs. I often feel no one understands, no one cares, and I must be just crazy. Well, I guess there is another crazy person out there.

I do not take joy in the fact that someone else is fighting a battle but I do take comfort in the fact I have found someone who understands. I pray their battles and mountains will quickly be overcome and that I might find strength, hope and faith by praying for them.

This is taken from the blog, "A Place Called Simplicity."
http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/

The mountains are large but we know their creator. The waters are rough but our God says peace be still. The storms are pounding but God is our refuge.

Let's be honest - Satan hates the orphan. Do we really think he is going to give them up without a struggle. No way. He will raise hell to stop kids from coming home. We know our adversary, we know his tactics to discourage, and his plan - to take these kids captive for eternity. But Jesus overcame and his children were created to overcome as well!

You see adoption is more than giving a child an earthly forever family. Adoption is the ultimate discipleship.

Adoption is about introducing them to the one who planned their rescue in the first place. That they would know Jesus, that they would live for him, that God's plan for their lives would be discovered and lived out. That's what this is all about.

So we are not surprised Satan hates God's plan and throws everything against us.

Neither should you be surprised when you live out God's plan for your life that you will be attacked. So we take up the shield of faith to extinguish every fiery dart shot at us. Take it up with us will you. We really do count on all of you going to battle with us in prayer.

I pray you will follow this blog and pray for this family and that you will also pray for the boys born of our heart that they may be able to come home to us.

In His Name,
Amy

Seeking.....trusting.....waiting

Just like a child, I don't get it sometimes. A child who cannot tell time innocently asks for a cookie 45 minutes before supper. Dad and mom have to say no because they know supper will be served soon and there is a special cake hiding in the refrigerator. Of course, the child is incensed at not being allowed to have this treat not knowing there is something more special planned if only they can wait for 90 minutes.




90 minutes can seem like an eternity to a child. However, I am sure Chloe would agree that the Oreo Cake she got for Gotcha Day after supper was much better than the two chocolate chip cookies she desired before supper!

Oh, for us also to wait on the timing of God.

Greg and I were once again told no in our pursuit to bring home Chloe's friends.

We know it is in God's hands.

We know His calling for us.

We know His calling for Christians to take care of widows, orphans and to visit the incarcerated.

We also know that he expects us to depend totally on Him.

God has often been seen to step in at the very last moment. The stories of Abraham and Issac, Lazarus and Jairus's daughter are proof of this.

Faith is what we must have.

Greg and I are still resolved to keep fighting for these children.

We know what the Lord has laid upon our hearts.

We also know what God has laid upon our daughter's heart.

I have lost count of the many times I have found a paper bag stashed away in a drawer or under a pillow. The paper bag is filled with individual envelopes containing little trinkets, magic markers or candy. Chloe hides presents in the house for her two friends. She does not want her friends to find the gifts.

The other day we were talking about her birthday and I asked her if she would like to have a party and invite friends. She said she would like to ask her two friends from China. Raeya said, "What about your third friend from China?" Chloe responded, "No, she has a mommy."

How can anyone turn their back on such a request?

So, we continue to pray, have faith and keep asking.

Through the love of a parent a child learns of the love of their Heavenly Father. Hopefully, although a fallen sinner, that parent is able to give the child a good picture of a Heavenly Father.

I pray God allows me to be used by Him to show many more children His love.

God spilled His Son for us, oh that we will spill ourseves for Him.