Mr. Mess in Disguise

When Harrison disappears to his room.....



Sherman gets bored.  When Sherman gets bored....we know a mess will soon be forthcoming....in one form or another.  If water options are unavailable....he will look for another source. 

He disappeared for a bit, and reappered announcing....Look mom, I'm Ross. (Ross is our oldest son's boss and lives nearby)  In Ross' defense...He is not quite as chunky as Shermans shirt suggests. 

My Bear in his Cave

Some of my readers have commented on the fact that I don't post about Harrison very often.  It's not because he is less loved! Or even less present.  He is just quieter, and less "busy", much more.."behind the scenes" than Mr. Mess is.

This is Harrison's idea of a well decorated room.....every poster that you own, and any magazine page of interest.......all find a spot on the wall.....(We should have bought stock in the sticky tac company)......along with every piece of junk treasure you own on display......He has not read the decorating manual that refers to editing your displays...or the less is more articles........nope.  It's ALL good stuff in his book.

                           

We Love this book devouring, PSP playing,  information sponge.... with a wealth of knowledge stored in that  top knot of his.  He loves collecting information......for what???  if nothing else, to keep his friends well entertained.  He is a delight.

Waiting Stinks

"Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within myself the unanswered question, lifting my heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon my thoughts."
~Elisabeth Elliot

I'm trying to learn this....but as my mother and husband can attest to.....I'm much more of a NOW person, than one who likes to wait:(  My little girls are in CHINA for Pete's sake!  And they NEED their mama! And yes their mama NEEDS them:)  We just received this update from a friend who is in China now getting her little girl from the same orphanage our girls are in, she is  also getting an older girl that is almost 14, and will age out of the system on her birthday later this month.  They got her just in time.  Praise the Lord!  One less child surviving on the streets.  She says about our little girls........

So now the good stuff!  I saw your baby Wren today!  Oh Judy, when we got in the van to leave I broke down and cried. How i hated leaving her there.  I truly felt connected with her.  When I first saw her she was eating and pulled away when I tried to touch her.  So I took pictures and videos and moved on to the other children.  Then I made my way back to her and let her look through the camera with me.  She loved this and let me get close to her and laugh and look through the camera.  I put my arm around her and snuck a couple kisses on her cheek!  Judy, she is beautiful!  Really really beautiful and so sweet.  She has such a bright smile!  I saw her again in the crib room and she was all smiles this time.  She made great eye contact and I kept looking at her and waving as we left.  She smiled, looked me in the eyes and kept waving back.  Words cannot explain.  It was truly like leaving a child I knew.  You need to go now!  

My guide asked about Xiao Kui and Ms. Zhong said she is doing really well in foster care.  She said she is with a really nice family and is much healthier since she has been there.  I wish I could have seen her too. 

                                                   Wren is the one in the pink turtleneck with the pig tails:)

I'm SO ready to go:(  I remind myself that God's timing is perfect.....and most days it works.....but today....my Heart is in China, and i just want to bring my babies HOME.

When I grow up...

How is it that I can honestly say that I want to be like some one 18 years younger than me.....when I grow up?  I feel like in terms of faith.....this girl is light years ahead of me.  I want this kind of  faith, I want this kind of love for humanity, I want this kind of  relationship with My God and Jesus.  Please God, draw me to you, use me to your glory. Amen.
http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/   Inspiring, humbling, Amazing.......READ!

Let's Do This Thing

We had an interesting Bible study last night.  Sherman's question was "did Jesus WANT to die on the cross?  Was he scared, or worried  or was he like "Lets DO This Thing" Oh my......I love this kid:)  Then we were talking about Jesus walking on the water and Harrison says, Good thing it wasn't like that when he was baptized or he would have been like "Bonk, Bonk, Bonk.....Give it up John, this just aint workin"  Not one of our most edifying studies, but we had some good medicine:-)  Prov. 17: 22  A Merry heart doeth good like a medicine.  We were certainly medicated tonight!!!!

Where did my babies go, and who are these big boys with crazy questions?

Sherman                    Sherman and Kyndahl

                Harrison                    Harrison and Kaitlyn(Kyndahl's sis)

Harrison and Sherman love this family of midgetts that we've adopted:) Ha Ha!  It makes them look so BIG:)  They always use Grandma Knaus to measure by too, but I tell them Just because you're taller than Grandma, doesn't mean you are tall!  Maybe when you are taller than Thatcher you can have bragging rights.

Sorry Ash, I think he still owns the bragging rights, tip toes don't count..... but nice try:-)





Mario Man

Sherman does all things with enthusiasm. He planned his costume down to the last eyebrow.  He was not happy that we couldn't find big yellow buttons to put on his overalls.  He couldn't wait to get to school and show his friends his costume.  The reaction must not have been what he hoped for, because as soon as he got home, he wanted to make sure he could go trick or treating in town.  "People need to see me" he said.     

Harrison had no interest in dressing up, but he was happy to collect candy.  I say, no costume, no candy:)  But most people must be nicer than me, because he came home with a nice bag full.

Fortune cookie wisdom

A fellow adopting friend was recently eating at a Chinese restaurant and opened her fortune cookie to read........ "As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled".  The Bible words it a little differently...I have shown you in every way by laboring like this, that you must support the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said "It is more blessed to give than to receive." 

I have found through this adoption journey, that it is HARD to be on the receiving end.  It's humbling, and we feel so undeserving of this huge outpouring of love and generosity.  Another blogger said it so much better!  She talks about being Jesus with skin on:)  I loved what she had to say.   If you like her article and want to read more of their story, click on the title below in tan.

Jesus with skin on!

I feel so weak!... so needy!  But I don't like being weak or needy!  (There... I said it!)  I'd rather be the one reaching out to those in need... Not because I'm so holy or righteous, but because when I'm on the "giving end" of need... I set the terms.  I decide how committed I want to be... how much time I'm willing to give... how much money I'm willing to sacrifice... and how vulnerable I'm willing to risk being with the receiver of my giving.   But when I'm on the needy end, I'm helpless and completely at the mercy of the giver... whomever that might be.  


Ultimately, I believe that my times are in the Lord's hands and the satisfying of my needs, no matter how great or small, lies completely in his provision and care.  But I also believe that God delights in using broken people, just like me, to be "Jesus with skin on"...


Sometimes I think it might just be easier if God would skip the "middle man".  Get a human being involved in anything... and it instantly becomes complicated!  I mean, if my need entails money... it seems it would be so much easier if God dropped crisp dollar bills from the heavens as He did with manna.  That way, I wouldn't have to feel at all indebted to anyone or feel obligated to do the same for them when our roles have been reversed...


And if my need is physical... like failing health or a need for warmth and comfort.  Why not do the invisible by just speaking a word and letting it be done?  It seems that would be so much easier than waiting for someone else to rise to the occasion and meet my need, while inwardly taking pride in themselves and putting off an air that they are somehow better than I...  I'm fine with being indebted to God... but my next door neighbor who I'm not crazy about?  I really don't want to have to "owe him" anything! 


But right now, all those excuses are irrelevant!  I have needs that I can't meet no matter how I try.  My children have needs that I can't begin to meet in my own strength... Self-sufficiency is out the window.  "Self" has nothing to offer my incredible need!


James 1:27 says that true religion that pleases the Lord is to look after the orphans and widows and to reach out to them in their distress. Through out the Bible, we see again and again how God's heart beats passionately for the most needy among us!  But, wait!  I hate being needy... remember?  But I can't skip over this without asking"why"?  And I think I might already know the answer!  God loves the weak and the needy precisely because they can not provide for themselves... they MUST look outside of themselves for the fulfillment of their needs... they must look to Christ!   


I started this journey with a negative balance in my "sufficient" tank.  I'm certain that most people thought that we'd lost our minds before we even started!  Most days I probably would have agreed.  But part of the joy of this journey has been discovering along the way how ALL-sufficient our God is!  One of the greatest treasures has been meeting brothers and sisters along the way that have been "Jesus with skin on" to us!


Behind every check made out in our names for Rachel's adoption was a family with obligations and needs much like our own.  People gave because they wanted to give hope to a little girl that had never known hope before... and they were willing to sacrifice in order that she might meet the One who is the giver of Hope Himself!... Jesus with skin on!