The "Boss" Man has arrived!!!!!

Whoah! is all I can say about "Boss" our new puppy. I love him dearly already, but I think I was somewhat mislead by the breeder. But what can you expect when you buy a puppy over the phone and depend on the breeder to pick the right puppy for you. I had been looking for around six months for a border collie and couldn't find any even within driving distance. They all seem to be in the mid-west. Well, Boss is the biggest titty baby I have ever seen in my life. I have never met a pup (he is 12 weeks) so timid and afraid of everything. He has been home for a week now and is just starting to get off the couch for longer than two seconds. Any noise and he jumps, any sudden movement and he is spooked. I was having to carry him into the yard to use the bathroom because he was too afraid to even go outside. We are making progress, but it is slow, really slow. I was hoping to do agility and freestyle frisbee with him, but not sure he will ever get to that point. He is even afraid of toys or balls. Well, at least he's sweet, to humans anyway :(

All about perspective!!!!

Well, we received news last Friday that there were issues with paperwork for some families with our adoption agency. They were going to let us know by Monday who all was affected. I knew we would be one of those families and it was confirmed via an e-mail from an agency rep. on Sunday. I won't lie, at first I was angry, really angry, yeah, so angry I wanted to punch someone in the face, anyone at that point , even my husbands face was looking like a great target Sunday night (poor Mike). Mixed in with was anger was a lot of crying and grief.

But, of course the more I prayed and talked to God about it all, I knew everything would be OK. I have had a feeling that God was waiting for something to happen within our family specifically before Mihiret would come home. I talked to my pastors wife a couple of months ago and told her I felt like God was waiting on Mike. I told her I felt like God was working in him and that this work was important and needed to be finished before bringing one of His children into our family and home. Well, when I received the news about our paperwork, it somewhat confirmed what I had been feeling. I know the answers aren't clear now, but I know when our blessed little one arrives we will be able to look back and see the answers we so desperately want right now. I know for me, I am choosing to trust in the Lord. None of this is new or Surprises Him, he has had this planned since the beginning of time.

I have also thought about a little one, with a not so great immune system arriving in December, or January, or February and right in the middle of this H1N1 season. This delay may have saved her life. And to be honest, none of this is about us anyway, it's about the kids. Maybe there is work for them to do before coming to their families, maybe they're purpose has not been served where they are yet. We may never know and we can blame and blame and blame, but in the end it won't change what is supposed to be. When we have all the little ones home with us this will all be a distant memory. Please pray for all the families affected by this, that they would have patience and trust in the Lord during this trial. Please pray that the children will grow in faith while waiting and will be loved and cared for.

Love, love, love this!!!!!

I saw this on another blog I follow and I just absolutely love it. I am going to read it at church one day. It's about watching orphans worship the Lord.

"When orphans worship, their voices are loud, their eyes are closed tightly, and their little hands are gripped together. Your jaw will drop as you watch them physically enter into the presence of a king.

When orphans worship, their voices ache to express their hearts. Their songs are ones of desperation and admiration to a creator who they know holds them in his palm.

When orphans worship, your eyes fill with tears as you feel God all around you. Physically, you are overcome and spiritually you are one with the Lord.

When orphans worship, their last care in the world is what you, I, or their friend thinks of them. They sing loud, undignified, and with passion.

When orphans worship, you begin to wonder if this is what it is supposed to be like for us. You begin to wonder why God’s presence is so strong there, but we struggle to enter into any meaningful worship in our clean, well lit, and finely carpeted buildings.

When orphans worship, you are easily convinced that there is nothing else on their minds. Their deep expressions can tell you a thousand stories about the throne room.

When orphans worship, their instruments are their voices and the clap of their hands, but you’d probably swear you also could hear percussion, guitars, and booming pianos.

When orphans worship, they appear as though they have learned something we haven’t. While you and I find it so hard to believe that we have a God who loves and desires us, they take no interest in such foolishness."

Please Lord give me a court date!!!!

This is kind of how my part of my daily prayers go......

please give me a court date, please, please give me a court date, I need a court date, I really need a court date, please give me a court date, Amen. P.S. And please let us pass on the first try. Amen again.

Matthew 25 (A great version)

For I was hungry, while you had all you needed. I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water. I was a stranger, and you wanted me deported. I needed clothes, but you needed more clothes. I was sick, and you pointed out the behaviors that led to my sickness. I was in prison, and you said I was getting what I deserved...whatever you have done to the least of these, you've done it to Me." Matthew 25 according to Richard Stearns, President of World Vision

Amazima Ministeries

WOW!!!! IS ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT KATIE DAVIS. SHE IS A 20 YEAR OLD THAT HAS LIVED IN UGANDA FOR OVER TWO YEARS. SHE LIVES ALONE, NO FAMILY, NO FRIENDS. SHE HAS ADOPTED 13 CHILDREN AND FEEDS OVER 400 CHILDREN EACH DAY. NOT ONLY DOES SHE FEED THEM, SHE TAKES ANY SICK CHILD INTO HER HOME AND NURSES THEM TO HEALTH. EVERY SATURDAY SHE HAS 400 CHILDREN AT HER HOUSE TO FEED AND HAVE BIBLE STUDY WITH. GO TO HER WEBSITE AND CLICK ON HER BLOG AND READ ABOUT HER. SHE IS AMAZING AND HAS AMAZING LOVE FOR OUR GOD AND SUCH A HEART FOR THE LEAST OF THESE.

http://amazima.org/

Update on Mihiret

Just received an update from Shaun (A fellow hopester) on Mihiret. Shaun was there to pick up her little girl, Tsion. It's so funny because every time we look at her pictures we laugh about her fro she's got going on. I told Mike she looks like a Tomboy (that of course could be because of the boy clothes she is always dressed in). And if she's not one now, she soon will be when she starts growing up with three brothers.

Deanne- Mihret had some sort of red splotches on her face when we visited on
Monday and she was very cranky and crying a lot. The nanny said that she had
just woken from her nap. I asked about the red splotches but she said it was
from laying on the blanket. That didn't appear to be the case to me, however
when we returned on Wednesday, she was on the floor with the other kids and
having a good ol' time. She was full of laughs and giggles. She is a cutie with
a fun afro.

I guess school is not an amuzement park!!!!

My 12 year old is so funny and so witty and such a smart alick!!!!
I called him yesterday while he was walking home from school on his cell phone. I was picking up the five year old. This was our conversation;

Me; How was your day?
C; Fine.
Me; What did you do at school?
C; Nothing.
Me; Anything exciting happen today?
C; Mom, it's school-not an amuzement park!!!!

Update on the princess!!!!!

It's so cool when a traveling parent gives an update on Mihret. I love hearing what anyone that has spent any time with her has to say. I love getting any little glimpse into her life that I can.

Here is the update I received today from one of the traveling mommies;

Mihiret - doing great! 12-18 mos clothes, tried to steal her but they stopped me
Deanne! :)

Oh! I can't wait to hold that little turd myself and smother her with kisses.

Three month's ago I sent her an outfit from the Gap that was 9 mo.'s and it looked a little big on her and now she is wearing 12-18 mo.'s, so hard to believe.

FRUSTRATED AND IMPATIENT

I HAVE BEEN SO PROUD OF MYSELF AND MY FAITH OVER THE LAST FOUR MONTHS AFTER GETTING THE REFERRAL FOR MIHRET. I KNEW THAT EVERYTHING WOULD HAPPEN WHEN IT WAS TIME AND WHEN GOD WANTED IT TO. I THOUGHT I HAD LEARNED MY LESSON ABOUT PATIENCE FROM THE LAST ADOPTION FAILURE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME, MAYBE I'M STARTING TO PANIC BECAUSE I KNOW COURTS ARE CLOSING SOON AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE A DATE. ARGGHHHH!!!!! I JUST WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE AND SCREAM REALLY LOUD!!!!! MY PATIENCE, I'M AFRAID IS OFFICIALLY GONE, RETIRED, CAPUT. I AM STARTING TO THINK, HAVE THEY FORGOT ABOUT US, IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH HER PAPERWORK, HAVE WE EVEN BEEN FILED FOR COURT??????? SOMEBODY HELP!!! I NEED SOME REASSURANCE, SOME SPECIAL SCRIPTURE THAT WILL CALM ME DOWN A LITTLE. ALRIGHT, I AM GOING TO START LOOKIN!!!

Thinking of Africa more and more!!!!

It has been about two years since I was in Africa. I don't know what it is about the continent, and it is quite difficult to explain to those who have never visited. The land, the people, the culture, the simplicity, all become a part of you. It is true that Africa digs down, gently, but deep into a part of your heart you didn't even know existed, a part of your heart that you long for and miss, once you have spent any time with her. As the completion of our adoption is nearing, I feel my longing for Africa deepening. I can't wait to see her again, my old friend.

When I think of Africa, the following images immediately come to mind: Starvation. AIDS. Child soldiers. Genocide. Sex slaves. Orphans. From there, my thoughts naturally turn to how I can help, how I can make a difference. "I am needed here," I think. "They have so little, and I have so much." It's true, there are great tragedies playing out in Africa everyday. There is often a level of suffering here that is unimaginable until you have seen it, and even then it is difficult to believe. But what is even harder is reconciling the challenges that many Africans face with the joy I see in those same people. It's a joy that comes from somewhere I cannot fathom, not within the framework that has been my life to this day. The images spilling out of my television showed circumstances that could seemingly only equal misery, and I was fooled. I bought into the lie that circumstance defines happiness. The truth is, in Africa I find hearts full of victory, indomitable spirits. In places where despair should thrive, instead I find adults dancing and singing, and children playing soccer with a ball crafted of tied up trash. Instead of payback, I find grace. Here, weekend getaways are not options to provide relief from the pains of daily life. Relationships and faith provide joy. Love is sovereign. My new reality… I know now that my joy should have no regard for my circumstances. I'm ashamed by my lack of faith, but at the very same moment I am excited by my new pursuit. I'm forced to redefine the meaning of having much or having little. I'm uneasy with the prospect of change and of letting go, but just the thought of freedom is liberating. I want what I have learned to trickle down from my head into my heart - I no longer want to need the "next thing" to have joy. I'm not saying that Africa does not need our efforts. It absolutely does need our partnership. But for me, I've come to understand that I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME. Why? Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart. I've learned that I don't need what I have and that I have what I need. These are just a few of this continent's many lessons. I came here to serve and yet I've found that I have so much to learn, and Africa, with all its need, has much to teach me.

Cambria Mehret Broscious

We have a name. Mike researched names for hours the other day. He looked at tons of African Princess' names. Most he couldn't pronounce. He really wanted to name the baby a "C" name because he feels bad that everyone has a "M" name except for cole. So he found Cambria and I love it. The name means "Beautiful Life" and Mehret means "Mercy". Now we just need it to be official, come on court date!!!!!

Blessings!

I am such a bad bad blogger. I don't know why and I really don't have any excuses except that I love to read them, but I hate to blog myself, pitiful huh?

Well, within the last couple of weeks. I got a call from Grace and she told me she had some big news. I had no idea what she was about to tell me, but my heart started pounding in my chest so hard and loud it was ringing in my ears. TURNS OUT MIHRET IS HIV NEGATIVE. WE HAD THOUGHT FOR THE PAST FEW MONTH'S THAT WE WERE ADOPTING HER HIV POSITIVE. THE CLINIC SHE WENT TO DID THE DNA/RNA TESTING AND THEY GOT THE RESULTS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I THOUGHT IT WAS SO FUNNY THAT OUR AGENCY WANTED TO KNOW IF WE STILL WANTED TO ADOPT HER NOW THAT SHE WAS NEGATIVE, DUH!!!

I CANNOT WAIT TO HOLD THIS PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRL IN MY ARMS AND SMOTHER HER WITH LOVE. I FEEL LIKE SHE IS ALREADY ONE OF US. FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM OTHER ADOPTIVE PARENTS THAT HAVE SPENT TIME WITH HER, SHE HAS QUITE THE PERSONALITY AND IS COMPLETELY SPOILED ROTTEN, PRETTY MUCH SHE SOUNDS LIKE A LITTLE BRAT THAT DOESN'T TAKE ANYTHING FROM ANYONE. SHE WILL FIT IN PERFECTLY!!!! I PRAY FOR HER AND HER CARETAKERS DAILY. I AM SO COMFORTED KNOWING SHE HAS AT LEAST THREE CARE TAKERS THAT ARE TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH HER. I THANK GOD THAT THERE IS SOMEONE LOVING ON HER AND LETTING HER KNOW THAT SHE IS SPECIAL UNTIL WE ARE TOGETHER. AN ADOPTIVE MOTHER BROUGHT ME THE E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR ONE OF HER CARETAKERS THAT LOVES HER VERY MUCH. IN THE FIRST E-MAIL HE SENT ME HE SAYS "I LOVE MIHRET VERY MUCH BECAUSE SHE IS SO SMART" I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO FUNNY. SHE TURNED ONE ON MAY 13TH, JUST FIVE DAYS AFTER MANNING (THE FIVE YEAR OLD). GOODNESS GRACIOUS, I'M GOING TO HAVE (2) TAURUS THE BULLS :) SO SHE HAS NOW MOVED OUT OF THE BABY HOUSE AND HAS MOVED INTO THE TODDLER HOUSE :(

I left my teaching job in May, had a new job, decided not to take the job (contract problems), got offered another job with a huge sign on bonus, turned down that job (no way for Mike and I to both work 3 twelve's a week with four kids), and now am going back to my teaching job! MAN MAKES PLANS, AND GOD LAUGHS!!!!

AND ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE POOR LITTLE COLE. THE TWELVE YEAR OLD IS SICK. HE HAS STREP THROAT. I WAS WORKING AT THE HOSPITAL LAST NIGHT TIL 1AM AND MY HUSBAND, WHO IS A PARAMEDIC MIND YOU, CALLS ME AND TELLS ME C. HAS A FEVER. I SAID LOOK IN HIS THROAT AND CALL ME BACK. HE SAYS NAH! IT LOOKS FINE. OK I'LL TAKE CARE OF HIM WHEN I GET HOME.

GET HOME AT 2AM, WAKE HIM UP, EXAMINE HIM AND HIS TONSILLS ARE HUMONGOUS, RED, SWOLLEN, AND WITH EXUDATE. HIS TONSILLOR NODES ARE HUGE. AND HE HAS HORENDOUS STREP BREATH. I ASKED MIKE "ARE YOU SURE YOU LOOKED IN THE RIGHT CHILD'S THROAT?"

I CALLED HIM IN AN ANTIBIOTIC TODAY AND HE HAS HAD HIS FIRST DOSE, BUT I CAN'T GET HIS FEVER UNDER CONTROL. I HAVE BATHED HIM AND ALTERNATED MOTRIN AND TYLENOL,BUT IT'S JUST NOT GETTING IT. PRAYING THE ANTIBIOTIC WILL KICK IN TOMORROW.

Change is Coming!!!

Lot's of changes are coming our way and I have to say I am starting to get a little excited. I finish out my teaching job next week and will start June 1st as a full time Nurse Practitioner in an ER. My baby boy is about to turn five in a few days (this one, not so excited about), and soon we will have another little angel to share birthday's and holidays with.

I have been down for the last week or so and don't really know why, but I now feel like I have a renewed spirit. Last night Mike worked a double (24 hour shift) so it was just Manning and I in bed. I laid there and pretended to be asleep as his little eyes were scrunched close and he was quietly praying. It was just the sweetest thing ever. I am so thankful for all the Lord has given me. He hears the prayers of the little ones and answers them faithfully.

Oh Yeah! I'm Buyin Girl Stuff

So far for little miss princess Mihret we have

Baby doll age appropriate ordered online
Little Einstein's baby photo album so she can stare at her strange and somewhat crazy new family
Five onesies that include the word "Princess" on at least two of them
Giraffe toy

Now if I could just find an outfit to send her. This is not a good sign of things to come. I have looked online at Gap, Children's Place, etc. and in stores at our local mall and I can't find even one outfit that is "good enough" to send to my daughter. Why am I being so picky? I just want the first outfit I send her to be perfect I guess. So as much as it will kill me ;) I guess I will have to keep shopping for little girl clothing, Darn It!!!!!

30,000 children each day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I made the mistake in my last entry of making excuses about why Christians don't act. Why Christians don't step up and step in to make a difference in the life of a child. I thought well maybe the numbers are just too overwhelming to think about. 30,0000 children die each day due to starvation and preventable disease. That is a big number and maybe Christians just can't comprehend the magnitude of the numbers or maybe Christians think, "Well what could I do to help one and what would it matter anyway's to help one or two children?" Well, I'm tired of the excuses, I am tired of the non-action. It's time to get to work people, it's time to do God's work. Here are two reasons to help break down the numbers into faces. Meet Sam and Esther and the Godly people making a difference in the lives of children.

God's will for the orphans of the world

I have been reflecting quite a bit on the Word and what God say's about the poor and orphans of the world and what exactly the job of the church is in the midst of this crisis. Many questions have come to my mind lately. Why is the church not responding as we should to the crisis around the world? Why do so many Christians judge our family for wanting to adopt? What is not clear about the Word to some Christians? I was reading Jeremiah last night and stumbled across chapter 5;25-29. In these passages the Lord talks about His people that are wicked and sinful. Their sins, well they are sins of omission. We seldom think about sins of omission. Proverbs 24;12 also talks about the gravity of omission sins.

What are sins of omission you may be asking yourself, well these sins are not wrong doing sins, they areno doing sins. In other words by not responding to the orphans and poor in the world we are sinning. Once our eyes have been opened, you cannot pretend not to know and you will be judged by God for not responding. I came across a bible on Amazon that is sold out and is on back order, it is called "The Injustice Bible." This bible highlight's all of the passages talking about the poor, the orphans, the widows, the strangers. I thought to myself, this bible is sold out, you have got to be kidding me. Maybe the "want to do something" is there and alive in Christians and the church but maybe we just don't know what to do or where to begin to help.

So then I started thinking about my orphan sermon again and have been feeling pulled to speak out again. I gave up before because there weren't many churches willing to let me speak to the congregation. And why is that? Because I am a woman (yes, that was the reasoning for some of them) or is it because, goodness forbid, I am not the same "Religion" as them? I am not sure the reasoning, but I am going to keep pressing on to get the word out to God's People.

I read the other day that if each Christian Family would adopt one child, there would be no more orphans in the world. Not that I think this is the answer certainly, but I guess I had never thought of it that way.

There are 143 million orphans world wide right now. I think about that number on almost a daily basis and I still just cannot grasp on to it. If I thought about trying to help 143 million children, I would most likely feel overwhelmed and I think that is where we are as "The Church" We are overwhelmed because this number is terrifying and what difference can we make anyway, right? Wrong, my friends, help one at a time, and once we all start doing it, we are surely going to create a tidal wave, no longer just drops in the bucket.

The Lord commands us to RESCUE the weak and the needy. Psalm 82 doesn't say help the orphans and the poor of the world, God says rescue them and deliver them from the hands of the wicked!!!

Thought I lost my blog, whew!

I have been having one heck of a time trying to sign into my blog. I thought I'd never be able to post again and I was really putting off starting a new one. Finally found my correct login info and we're back baby! Oh we're back!!!!!

We lost our baby :(

Well, you may have noticed that I have removed the baby ticker from the side of my page. I was 11 weeks pregnant and found out this past Thursday that the baby has no heartbeat now. We saw the baby and heartbeat three weeks ago, but I had been feeling weird so went in to be checked. We are having a tough time dealing right now. To make it even worse, the baby hasn't passed, so now I sit and wait knowing that our baby is inside of me still not alive, this is the hardest to deal with. We had just put our adoption on hold three weeks ago because I thought things were progressing well. I don't know what we are going to do now. Not sure if I ever want to try again and not sure about adoption right now either. Guess I am just depressed right now though. I am praying that this baby will pass this week sometime so that I won't need a D & C. Please keep us all in your prayers.