Tick, tock, tick, tock.....

......still waiting....it feels like forever since our dossier went to Thailand and it's only been since Christmas....God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference....

Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming...

It's taken a few days to get these pictures up but I'm finally feeling better. I thought I would finally dodge the dreaded stomach flu this year but, as usual, I fell victim to kid germs and spent the better part of Monday with my head in the toilet. It's taken all week to feel somewhat better and today I have more energy so far. Anyway, moving on to fun things...

G is swimming!!! It's like it finally clicked and now he's unstoppable! I can't describe how fun it was to see him swim underwater for the first time. The look on his face was priceless! I really think getting the kick board helped because it allowed his body to be horizontal while he kicked instead of doing more of a treading water motion. It was sweet to see how proud he was of himself because he realized what a big deal it was! Now all he wants to do is go to the pool and we are encouraging it. We really hope that G becomes very comfortable in the water. I know I was when I was a kid and I hope to pass that along to him. Plus, all I can think about is our time in Thailand and the pool that's at the hotel. If we take him with us he'll have a blast and it will be fun for him and Prim to splash around together.

G's fancy new hat

I have to post this picture for mom and dad of the new hat they sent G. He loves it and he looks so handsome in it!! G is doing well and recovering from his bronchitis. Today he made it to gymnastics and is actually coughing very little. Unfortunately he has given his cooties to MH who is now on antibiotics. G is looking forward to school tomorrow as it is Valentine's Day. The kids are supposed to wear their PJ's to school and they will be making cupcakes and deocrating them. I spent the afternoon putting little Valentine's together with lollipops for him to take to class. I found Thomas the Tank Engine Valentine cards at Hallmark and he is so excited to give them to all of his Penguin friends at school! Hopefully I remember to bring the camera to school tomorrow...
Happy Valentine's Day!! XXOOXXOOXXOOXXOXOX

Every Day Miracle

Our latest pictures of Prim still leave me smiling. I had just won the prayer lotto. You see, I had prayed very, very specifically for three things these past few weeks. The book of Matthew chapter 21 verse 22 says that "In all things, whatsoever ye shall pray, believing, ye shall receive". I took this verse to heart and allowed it to be my mantra as I prayed for the following:

1) that we would receive an update of Prim earlier than late February/beginning of march 2)that she would be wearing something that we had sent her or display a toy that we had included with the dresses 3)that she would smile-we had no pictures of her with a smile on her face.

When we received Prim's update from Holt, it was a complete surprise! It was only the beginning of February and wouldn't you know it she was wearing AND sitting next to the dresses and toys we had sent in her first package. Most importantly she was smiling. Our beautiful little girl finally showed joy in her picture and I was filled with a sense of relief to see her happy face.

I am always amazed how good God's grace is and how his timing is just perfect. My heart needed renewal and He knew this, answering my prayer specifically and boldly so that there was no doubt that His hand guided the process. What a miracle...

Cloud Nine!!!

Today we received an update on Prim!! Woohooo! Let me just acknowledge that this is an answer to a prayer because I just didn't know if I could wait until the end of the month to see our baby girl. She has gotten SO big, it's hard to believe but then again they do grow like weeds. I am thankful for the picture of her smiling. It's great to see her sweet face and my how different she looks with a smile on her face!! Her progress reports indicate that she is doing very well and growing. She is about 19 lbs and 28 inches-give or take a tiny bit. She is still taking three bottles of milk a day and two during the night plus three meals a day. Oh geese. I read that the Thai people show love through food (are we sure they're not Italian) so little Prim is very well loved. In the pictures you'll notice that she is wearing a cute little blue printed dress. We sent that!!! In the picture of her sitting down you can see that she is surrounded by dresses, her doll and a book that we sent her in October. I love that dress, I bought it at my favorite kids store in Italy before we left. It's nice to see that it fits her just right.

Her progress report also says that she is saying the words for mom and dad and she can climb on and off chairs, is walking very well and is very happy. She had a bit of an incident in December. Apparently she sat and tipped over a very hot bowl of soup and burned her hip. It's quite a nasty burn but they sent pictures and it looks like it's healing very nicely and they say that she is fine. It makes me happy that it was addressed and brought to our attention because I imagine that they didn't have to mention it nor did the foster mother have to say anything b/c it wouldn't have been noticeable under clothing. I think that Prim is being extremely well cared for and it breaks my heart that she will have to grieve over that loss within the next few months.

Well, I'm off to stare longingly at my little girl. Please keep her in your prayers. Also, please pray for her foster family. Our report indicated that the foster father had to leave and go to his birth home to take care of their coffee plantation as his father is extremely ill with cancer. Prim and her foster family did not accompany him as two of the children are in grade school (foster parents bio children). The foster mother made the decision to stay behind with the kids-boy do I know how that is. Pray that they are reunited quickly and for good health for their family.

That Time of Year

You might think I'm talking about taxes, but "that time of year" describes sniffles, coughs and fevers that accompany the November through March time frame. While getting over an ear infection, nasty little germs were invading G just waiting for the day his antibiotic treatment ended. Two days later the crankiness was back along with a wicked cough that appeared overnight and it's back to the doctors. Luckily instinct prevailed as I wondered if his infection had really cleared up and made a follow up appointment for G to be checked. Thank goodness because that day he complained of a headache all day long and cried until he fell asleep in the car. After a quick listen the doctor said he has bronchitis but luckily not the "throwing up and diarrhea" thing that's going around. I have to agree with her although G told me at bedtime tonight that he "doesn't like sick". I hear you buddy.

These are the times when I feel like there are germs just floating all around and every time I pick him up from preschool I wonder if today is the day he'll get the pukey bug seeing as how EVERYONE we know has already had it. Ugh.....it's that time of year.....

does He really Part II

I've been pondering over my last post and this morning woke up wanting to follow up. I still couldn't shake the feeling that some how this "Jesus loves Osama" sign was just not right. I kept going over again in my mind what was bugging me and the only thing I could come up with was the Cammi background. Now why would a church put a biblical based statement in front of their church with a military style camouflaged background? I went back and reread the statement that the church made and it came to me loud and clear that the answer wasn't in what they said, but what they DIDN'T say.
I realized that it's very possible that the church itself is taking a passive aggressive stance on the current war in Iraq. Not wanting to "take sides" on an explosive and unpopular issue in Australia, they instead decided to use the Word of God to send a message to the world that the war is wrong. Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky. I prefer the bullhorn guy....

does He really?

So I see this article today about a church in Australia that has some down-under panties in a bunch. At first when I read it I thought it said "Jesus loves Obama" and I thought, wow! that's a pretty funny political statement for the Aussies to be making about an American presidential candidate. Freudian slip? Then my eyes adjusted and I read it correctly- although I was more confused by the camouflage background than the actual statement. That totally throws the statement off for me. From what I've read the brewing argument is that people such as Osama bin Laden do not deserve the love of Jesus, Allah or anyone on this earth for that matter. Many are outraged that the church would take a position that would insinuate that Osama deserves love, kindness or forgiveness for the acts of hate and violence that he has committed. Unfortunately for this church they are a victim of PC. Yep, it's not politically correct to say that you should love your enemies. Even though God commands us in book 5 of Matthew (and I'm paraphrasing here) that originally we were told to love our neighbor and hate our enemy. The Lord commands us to LOVE our enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Also, He sends the sun to rise on the good AND the evil and rain to fall on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Trust me, it's a tough pill to swallow even for the most devout. I encourage those who find this to be confusing to think about it this way: God does not want us to harbor hate in our heart for any reason. He sent His son Christ for every man, woman and child-even those who do evil-and we can take comfort in the knowledge that judgment is not our responsibility but in the hands of the Almighty and His righteousness will prevail. Do not mistake His love for Osama as APPROVAL for his actions. They are very different indeed.

I like to think of it this way. Maybe God loves Osama bin Laden so much, that he's saved a very special, cozy little place in Hell for him...