tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23923078508284459392024-03-05T10:09:54.340-05:00Adopted and AppointedMandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.comBlogger277125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-40473868573947340132015-03-05T22:51:00.000-05:002015-03-05T22:51:01.163-05:00The Drop Box, Part 1<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">An unexpected window of time opened up for me to go see <u>The Drop Box</u> Tuesday night, so I texted several friends and invited them to come along...with 2 hours notice! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Who says moms of 7 can't be spontaneous? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Actually, moms of many live a life precariously balanced between spontaneity and intentional order. But that's another post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3 of my friends joined me and a fourth, who couldn't be there, asked me to blog my thoughts on the movie. So, here it is Angela.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I went well-informed of the movie's subject matter, so I came with a purse full of tissues! But I was surprised that I didn't cry as much as I expected. That is not to say that the movie was not moving, just this night I did not weep as much as I <i>rejoiced.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Jeremiah 31:13 </i></span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19.5px; line-height: 28px;"><i>I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The movie is actually a documentary on the sacrificial caring of Pastor Lee and his wife for abandoned babies, most of whom have birth defects. He attracted worldwide attention because, after seeing many babies die of exposure, he built a baby box, a hatch of sorts, </span><span style="font-size: large;">in the side of his house in which birth mothers could relinquish their babies anonymously and safely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The movie addresses not only his motivation and passion to honor and protect the value of every life, but also highlights this highly controversial practice...the Drop Box. As the film explains, the idea did not originate with him and has actually been used in many countries, including China. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">See this article with video footage: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2595184/Heartbreaking-moments-parents-say-goodbye-sons-daughters.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2595184/Heartbreaking-moments-parents-say-goodbye-sons-daughters.html</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The documentary does not skirt the nay-Sayers of the Drop Box, but gives them voice. They say it encourages infant abandonment and does not 'protect the child's civil rights'. I appreciate that the film did not verbally debate these arguments, but rather through images and stories and an explanation of the Korean cultural mores, leaves the viewer to decide whether the box truly encouraged abandonment or merely provided a safe, humane, might I say more loving, way for birth mothers to do the most difficult thing I can imagine. Maybe one day I blog my thoughts on baby hatches...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Until then, here is a clip from <u>The Drop Box</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><iframe allowtransparency="true" class="wistia_embed" frameborder="0" height="298" name="wistia_embed" scrolling="no" src="http://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/175spp5elo" width="480"></iframe><br /><a class="wistia-linkback" href="http://thedropboxfilm.ca/">The Drop Box Movie</a></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The film very clearly declares the truth that <i>every</i> life has value. The life of an orphan, the life of a child with a disability. Everyone. The movie beautifully portrays that every life has purpose and illustrates this through the story of Pastor Lee's son.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">But early on in the movie, they also tell the story of a little girl, Hanna, who was left on the pastor's doorstep and then raised by his family for 6 years until she passed away from her medical challenges. Her life and death led pastor Lee to make his life work rescuing babies. He said that when she died, he felt like he wanted to quit, but then felt compelled by the Spirit that not only would he continue, but he would give his very life for these children.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">As I listened to him, I thought of Luke. His life touched so many, he exceeded what many believed he could do. And when he passed away, I didn't think I could continue any further down this road of adoption. But then, the Spirit intervened and said He had called me to serve as mama to more children who needed one. My grief did not negate their need. Out of Luke's life and death, 2 more now have a Mama. His life had so much purpose.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOuBfG3qRyIZPtEzok_dlK-f_MyLS9KuUD2ipuayIY9KI0G_nuGkn2behqtsXERd8JRsj3sAE2ZQ5oiGhVBILD1a3lfBJg3UlLrdxw83iREtvGLf0iG1WA67CfjuKI0NCTRf_2EWCqt4/s1600/Dr.+Steve+Luke+Joshua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOuBfG3qRyIZPtEzok_dlK-f_MyLS9KuUD2ipuayIY9KI0G_nuGkn2behqtsXERd8JRsj3sAE2ZQ5oiGhVBILD1a3lfBJg3UlLrdxw83iREtvGLf0iG1WA67CfjuKI0NCTRf_2EWCqt4/s1600/Dr.+Steve+Luke+Joshua.jpg" height="477" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke and Joshua together...brothers before they (or we) knew they would be!!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">And after facing such grave grief in his death, I also realized I had survived it. I had not been destroyed. God had carried me through and He would carry me through more if need be. I became willing to hurt and be hurt if called to </span><span style="font-size: large;">again</span><span style="font-size: large;">. So when Sophie's incredibly complex and daunting medical file came to us, with knocking knees, nauseous stomach, and eyes on Jesus...we said yes. With well-informed trembling we said will go deeper, give more, risk again for this one. And for Him and His glory.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 Corinthians 8:9 <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Part 2 tomorrow....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-69913280746286928412015-02-01T17:36:00.001-05:002015-02-01T17:36:40.416-05:00Stinkin' Adorable!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Treneka at <a href="https://forthejoyphotography.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">For the Joy Photography</a> took some pics of Miss Sophie, too, that day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sophie & I had been at one of her many doctor's appointments, but when we returned she was ready for the camera!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEALsIpncKhX-Xl56UvWep7WyBXxGnYiwXzCODUpjVERc85k78B1jM4OaLmKP4trOLQD9goL3KY7nW604tNhQsP8qPR9g0GqSGhxL6ZGEBuRpGxFPR5l08RaNx8YmB3a8Yk4bwd2gIq7M/s1600/Mandy+&+kevin+Favorites-0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEALsIpncKhX-Xl56UvWep7WyBXxGnYiwXzCODUpjVERc85k78B1jM4OaLmKP4trOLQD9goL3KY7nW604tNhQsP8qPR9g0GqSGhxL6ZGEBuRpGxFPR5l08RaNx8YmB3a8Yk4bwd2gIq7M/s1600/Mandy+&+kevin+Favorites-0019.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Honestly, one thing we've learned about this girl is that she is <i>always </i>ready for a camera! Emma has found it nearly impossible to get a candid shot of this girl. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeq0iGqAbIWyIjt83Q3fDZaOOc_lJIw8wg0O6gI_Qg_niDkQ1O2svNcG4jsDyGc5NyFxVOcUUa_h8JfQnqMFhRxtd7XHYlFcSCNVpQIN1Uz5nZ99BQ44wwowp3ORvngDe7KHt4ozVlxw/s1600/Mandy+&+kevin+Favorites-0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeq0iGqAbIWyIjt83Q3fDZaOOc_lJIw8wg0O6gI_Qg_niDkQ1O2svNcG4jsDyGc5NyFxVOcUUa_h8JfQnqMFhRxtd7XHYlFcSCNVpQIN1Uz5nZ99BQ44wwowp3ORvngDe7KHt4ozVlxw/s1600/Mandy+&+kevin+Favorites-0018.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She senses the camera's presence!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapLAEPy8JtCvKkrB0PtnmFvOg9e_iIGhB1mp_k0VXLdhzddRxBCSAyJU_xpsaed5zTgGnA0KGY81QPuFytpM3eojkjGt30bw62PzgzgP8Ry0-U399SVklWJP8vqsC1E92yswbLom_r_Q/s1600/sophie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapLAEPy8JtCvKkrB0PtnmFvOg9e_iIGhB1mp_k0VXLdhzddRxBCSAyJU_xpsaed5zTgGnA0KGY81QPuFytpM3eojkjGt30bw62PzgzgP8Ry0-U399SVklWJP8vqsC1E92yswbLom_r_Q/s1600/sophie.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Isn't she just stinkin' adorable?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/150/A6A708F8C798875EE8C7808EE57D5165.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-74605063929391742772015-01-25T16:35:00.002-05:002015-01-25T16:35:33.008-05:00Cutest 5 Year Olds!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So Sophie has understandably gotten a lot of blog time lately.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A week ago a good friend of mine hung out with us for the morning and because she also happens to be a photographer who got a new camera for Christmas...she asked if she could practice with it using Lily & Joshua as her subjects while I took Sophie to a doctor's appointment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hmmm. How should I answer?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Took me about a milli-second to say...<i>Please! Pretty please! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh...I mean, yes. Sure. Of course. We'd be happy to help out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And look what she took!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Treneka has her own photography business and blog called <a href="https://forthejoyphotography.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">For the Joy Photography</a>. She is super-talented and has been mentoring Emma, as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You've seen her work before around here...she took our family photos back in February 2014. *All funky collages are by me.*</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Check her out on her <a href="https://forthejoyphotography.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> or on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ForTheJoy" target="_blank">Facebook</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/150/A6A708F8C798875EE8C7808EE57D5165.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-35188911534966485782015-01-14T21:46:00.001-05:002015-01-14T21:46:24.842-05:00Christmas...<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">...was a bit of a blur. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I chalk it up to jet lag. And 3 hours of sleep per night for several nights in a row.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jet lag is a bear when you totally reverse the days and nights of a 3 year old whose whole life has just been shifted in an unbelievably major way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Honestly, Christmas had nothing of the Christmas 'feel' this year. I think it had a lot to do with being in China and every other time I have been in China it has been the middle of the summer. Everything was so similar to our other trips that seeing Christmas trees and wreaths and hearing Christmas music just wasn't enough to evoke the typical holiday feelings. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Also, might have had something to do with the absence of Christmas cookies. Ahem.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That is not to say that my mind was not occupied with the unbelievable truth of what Christmas is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">God sending His Son to imperfect, human parents to be raised. God using the miracle of adoption (Joseph of Jesus) to raise the God-King who would in turn die so that I could be adopted and given new life and an inheritance I could never earn, but yet have had lavished upon me. The I-can't-get-my-mind-around-this truth that before I was created, He had planned for me to be in His family and worked to get me there. The parallels to what we were walking with Sophie...and have walked with Lily, Luke, and Joshua...were just far too obvious. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">God with us. <i>with me!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">He was so very present. That is not to say He isn't always present...I've experienced having to trust that when I do not feel Him or see Him as I did for a time after Luke's death. But, this time...these 2+ weeks, He let me feel His breath and hear His song over me. He let my heart know Emmanuel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I read Lynn Austin's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Return-Me-Restoration-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00CIUJYCA/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421284488&sr=1-4&keywords=lynn+austin" target="_blank">Return to Me</a> </i>while I was in China. It is historical fiction about the prophet Zechariah and the first wave of exiles to return to Jerusalem from Babylon. I had forgotten the Christmas devotional I wanted to bring (Ann Voskamp's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Gift-Unwrapping-Story-Christmas-ebook/dp/B00CH7KWWK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421284614&sr=1-1&keywords=the+greatest+gift+ann+voskamp" target="_blank">The Greatest Gift</a>) </i>to keep my heart focused on Christmas those 17 days<i>. </i>But as I read, a message of Zechariah struck me as perfect for Christmas, perfect for where Jesus and I were together in China. God with us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Zechariah 2:10-11</i></span><br />
<i><span class="text Zech-2-10" id="en-NIV-22910" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">“Shout<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-22910Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-22910Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and be glad, Daughter Zion.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-22910R" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-22910R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> <b>For I am coming,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-22910S" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-22910S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and I will live among you,”</b><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-22910T" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-22910T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> declares the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-22910U" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-22910U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Zech-2-11" id="en-NIV-22911" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </span>“Many nations will be joined with the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> in that day and will become my people.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-22911V" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-22911V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> <b>I will live among you</b> and you will know that the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> Almighty has sent me to you.</span></i><br />
<span class="text Zech-2-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Zechariah 8:23</i></b></span></span><br />
<span class="text Zech-2-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><i><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>This is what the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because <b>we have heard that God is with you.</b>’”</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I also couldn't help but be moved that this year, as well as 17 years ago, He gave me the gift of a daughter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Emma is my Christmas baby. 17 years ago at 7:00 pm on Christmas Day, Emma Noelle was born. Every time I say her name, I hear Emmanuel. This year, I had both Emma Noelle and Sophie Joy to remind me of God's great goodness to me in this month of gifts.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And even as I watched my gifts open their gifts, my sight shifted to Heaven where Luke is in the presence of His Father. 3 years ago on December 26, Luke got the gift of leaving his tent behind and being clothed with the immortal. I imagine him running, jumping, dancing with Jesus. And, this year especially, I was able to cherish the gift of knowing how loved Luke was not only by us, but also by those who cared for him in China more of whom we got to meet personally this time in China.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Christmas this year had many of the same trappings: birthday presents, Christmas gifts, grandparents, coffee cake, pictures, video calls with Aaron and Tiffany and Grandma and Grandpa, Emma singing a solo at church Christmas Eve as we celebrated with friends and family Jesus' birth. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But in so many other ways, it was totally different.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And, I was blessed by the difference.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/150/A6A708F8C798875EE8C7808EE57D5165.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-35636801843677420812015-01-02T10:18:00.000-05:002015-01-02T10:18:28.419-05:00Home<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Late on the evening of Saturday the 20th we arrived home! </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSQoygwpl_wIaYNGzSw0q8ZNIN7Vlwn88gNo2bTWZ6FzOUjzwUH78c7pbUlque7Kchm_0N8HSvQ0EKo5gNFT2p3VmZD73gFi4TDYnkasv5_g8qC-3WakJiZBrR1iq2EuNDgk9gzDm_jw/s1600/Homecoming+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSQoygwpl_wIaYNGzSw0q8ZNIN7Vlwn88gNo2bTWZ6FzOUjzwUH78c7pbUlque7Kchm_0N8HSvQ0EKo5gNFT2p3VmZD73gFi4TDYnkasv5_g8qC-3WakJiZBrR1iq2EuNDgk9gzDm_jw/s1600/Homecoming+3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9BVWCF0eXtPgaXxleUUDXKrdvIwX9jvnnjedV_neRlzgXPGKSMnbSoQqtUfeevGO8uKnh7GkvGUH-Qq_aRE5zVNf7dsuYU2-VDlqqyklQdAnoePDp-1RRzR_np5xY7mW5W9bhJjtfOM/s1600/Homecoming+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9BVWCF0eXtPgaXxleUUDXKrdvIwX9jvnnjedV_neRlzgXPGKSMnbSoQqtUfeevGO8uKnh7GkvGUH-Qq_aRE5zVNf7dsuYU2-VDlqqyklQdAnoePDp-1RRzR_np5xY7mW5W9bhJjtfOM/s1600/Homecoming+4.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily welcoming us!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYX3W8NQ6cQKxvmHuf1kn1FmFkPEj8AFRRc5eI0GIIx49DLFXpF5eKnJpQmauWVTBK73Cnd3b3juOvWdx2-qQFNPEqJvRDhmQBXlQrkBF85JNKI5VQn2uwXedpr7UwrtXmIEhXTX-XQE/s1600/Homecoming+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYX3W8NQ6cQKxvmHuf1kn1FmFkPEj8AFRRc5eI0GIIx49DLFXpF5eKnJpQmauWVTBK73Cnd3b3juOvWdx2-qQFNPEqJvRDhmQBXlQrkBF85JNKI5VQn2uwXedpr7UwrtXmIEhXTX-XQE/s1600/Homecoming+5.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama hugging Lily</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09pvxp-hfRYBpWVyAVuYGC3-pVDcaFxCJTbRbPBgHKfrblxpr5Vvc8yOgWG7qX51FKlVFWNX2-gGnJlkism5PWE4CpertlrRkjabfymT6hPQaQDXI3Crol_0SkXcW0fVTpewDVP3u80c/s1600/Homecoming+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09pvxp-hfRYBpWVyAVuYGC3-pVDcaFxCJTbRbPBgHKfrblxpr5Vvc8yOgWG7qX51FKlVFWNX2-gGnJlkism5PWE4CpertlrRkjabfymT6hPQaQDXI3Crol_0SkXcW0fVTpewDVP3u80c/s1600/Homecoming+6.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love how Lily is hugging Sophie's foot!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQHalMEAJhrfufPJjrYWiL9zX5dYuvLzmFu4fM1jIE9zPf7Qd8S1xd3y7fRjNxEroazvoPyHDRHi-wuaVKq0ep-zwzLvvFpjRLNmNaZ0WSAs6rSYiFwYPrqlc6J9Nwe0hhXmZB2nij4s/s1600/Homecoming+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQHalMEAJhrfufPJjrYWiL9zX5dYuvLzmFu4fM1jIE9zPf7Qd8S1xd3y7fRjNxEroazvoPyHDRHi-wuaVKq0ep-zwzLvvFpjRLNmNaZ0WSAs6rSYiFwYPrqlc6J9Nwe0hhXmZB2nij4s/s1600/Homecoming+7.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua excited to say hello</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpAwYnDJssdICxqT3ifWRnIqxZIEnKf3SGAf5PFCC8hS0Ej-MCNPFBAfaJJoi1b8lbK0bpORACy4xd729q2DMUJgnw4pgCZGWbgQsGK8ThogEKReKUgsjb0IRbwWGSErP2WUlIC7tQ7w/s1600/Homecoming+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpAwYnDJssdICxqT3ifWRnIqxZIEnKf3SGAf5PFCC8hS0Ej-MCNPFBAfaJJoi1b8lbK0bpORACy4xd729q2DMUJgnw4pgCZGWbgQsGK8ThogEKReKUgsjb0IRbwWGSErP2WUlIC7tQ7w/s1600/Homecoming+9.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna Grace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KplBpyVN365Tw7QO71_D3Tl81aZwXbhOcgiQ0lzZiAg7VhwD7SNKzBqhP8an9uQkufnBise0lf9iykqoULvg2VLFcbABk2XYb1r8NGH43GfOo8GtLZaBrr72iWUjbD72ed7O_P0Azv8/s1600/Homecoming+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KplBpyVN365Tw7QO71_D3Tl81aZwXbhOcgiQ0lzZiAg7VhwD7SNKzBqhP8an9uQkufnBise0lf9iykqoULvg2VLFcbABk2XYb1r8NGH43GfOo8GtLZaBrr72iWUjbD72ed7O_P0Azv8/s1600/Homecoming+10.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma....so blessed to have her littlest sister home!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YLqNbsFKd_jJd2i_kGp1Qt0bmzcFUqEVOrHXFo3JKBcS3phhy8O8403g-j9o4e51j-bstvRafYLwE26sAHKQcRvPCeGMlovPu8xsZzKGJXXkn_JHlIyixRrP3GsYMOMs8758yOkgQg4/s1600/Homecoming+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YLqNbsFKd_jJd2i_kGp1Qt0bmzcFUqEVOrHXFo3JKBcS3phhy8O8403g-j9o4e51j-bstvRafYLwE26sAHKQcRvPCeGMlovPu8xsZzKGJXXkn_JHlIyixRrP3GsYMOMs8758yOkgQg4/s1600/Homecoming+11.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfY9RINzyLIRpdK3VQDjaJZd-HMq-cmV6omAvlNO1qlrscGTlFcnNZ1dsZAki7Zb_40VM7_a3P2XpvNrXYI5-hQr3aotHPtn0AvrTYOLAZj29q9H6ve48fciP4Cbu960Wlt3Tg-ATEjns/s1600/Homecoming+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfY9RINzyLIRpdK3VQDjaJZd-HMq-cmV6omAvlNO1qlrscGTlFcnNZ1dsZAki7Zb_40VM7_a3P2XpvNrXYI5-hQr3aotHPtn0AvrTYOLAZj29q9H6ve48fciP4Cbu960Wlt3Tg-ATEjns/s1600/Homecoming+13.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ally, who has been such a sweet big sister to Bei Bei</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotiLIucrRfrEXvGALt6QEA0ijhAsfEABzyjyehjPXQUgyLfmJa2gn17OCHGKT9iZ0QUMsO33q4LHBaVWDM1GYT_8oXk5lf6fsugX-B561lg32FtUkR3BmzSvRL2JQnytF6PwM2wK4nhU/s1600/Homecoming+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotiLIucrRfrEXvGALt6QEA0ijhAsfEABzyjyehjPXQUgyLfmJa2gn17OCHGKT9iZ0QUMsO33q4LHBaVWDM1GYT_8oXk5lf6fsugX-B561lg32FtUkR3BmzSvRL2JQnytF6PwM2wK4nhU/s1600/Homecoming+14.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her first ride in the US</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Video of our reunion....</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aCHrYBrIqkE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The flight was the smoothest adoption home flight we have experienced thus far...which can only be explained by prayer! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tqE8kxG6VuNp4GGdz4OXSiTuViHgN7kM6UmOiN4m75dbB8n2VLyzKwXVI8_1Uae6Vwx-nfoG-47oCydTeSt-n4rJTG9VQkX9rAijLwB8C_sHkZDl-ozWsEieZI2YLvDuujQJJNyflj0/s1600/20141220_204250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tqE8kxG6VuNp4GGdz4OXSiTuViHgN7kM6UmOiN4m75dbB8n2VLyzKwXVI8_1Uae6Vwx-nfoG-47oCydTeSt-n4rJTG9VQkX9rAijLwB8C_sHkZDl-ozWsEieZI2YLvDuujQJJNyflj0/s1600/20141220_204250.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bei Bei and Baba as we waited almost an hour for one suitcase to show up!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had asked so many people to pray that Sophie would do well on the flight home, that her catheter would not need to be changed in flight, and that she would remain fever free. And the Lord answered, "YES!" Soooo thankful! Not only that, but she actually slept most of the freezing cold flight! Another huge praise!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sisters, brother, grandparents, and our closest family friends all showed up at the airport to greet Sophie and she took it all in stride...even the car seat on the way home, which is yet another praise considering her significant dislike of airplane seat belts! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next several days consisted of getting to know her siblings and pets. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sophie Joy Bei Bei surprised us yet again by being cautiously curious about them (the pets...not the siblings!) rather than screechingly terrified like some other children we know! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtL3XIaHm_G_1G2Zd7wiyEczVMEnWJhn-tU_fiNSPhvlU-Hqb92Rq2JcH1O6WbZAzo0NuRA3X26ZL582rtV4y-Rx7sDBZlggipoCQAgBmaeANKtlHbgPgYSKSKuIsJZdzgEvJkdGseORw/s1600/DSC_0746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtL3XIaHm_G_1G2Zd7wiyEczVMEnWJhn-tU_fiNSPhvlU-Hqb92Rq2JcH1O6WbZAzo0NuRA3X26ZL582rtV4y-Rx7sDBZlggipoCQAgBmaeANKtlHbgPgYSKSKuIsJZdzgEvJkdGseORw/s1600/DSC_0746.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She has blended right in with the other kids and she is by far the most popular person in our house. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMMAI9EOal2mcx9pUwlAbfr4-UMFqCNhJs2SvJIwxnCT_f21dHANWTZoFDKVgViOVVHuEfI13YatV8kX7zRVDHNnSl4OJ6f4GXKd8ypPR7fzhZSwcP3v95a-6Jmxa9VMF39T8uHsFV24/s1600/DSC_0754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMMAI9EOal2mcx9pUwlAbfr4-UMFqCNhJs2SvJIwxnCT_f21dHANWTZoFDKVgViOVVHuEfI13YatV8kX7zRVDHNnSl4OJ6f4GXKd8ypPR7fzhZSwcP3v95a-6Jmxa9VMF39T8uHsFV24/s1600/DSC_0754.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone waits with eager anticipation for the moment Sophie is awake and ready to play. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTgjkCZ2daOjBFXu33EG_FJJzLH9G_JWE9aREb6g_GFNLOWbdljBTfvMEJQ4KvMtaHTiTayveC7E4NIMP7tfzFHTNRptUEs23c1CuHE32_5-UTYHd4rkVrwlLGaN7yNOtzUPdIzoFWFE/s1600/DSC_0799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTgjkCZ2daOjBFXu33EG_FJJzLH9G_JWE9aREb6g_GFNLOWbdljBTfvMEJQ4KvMtaHTiTayveC7E4NIMP7tfzFHTNRptUEs23c1CuHE32_5-UTYHd4rkVrwlLGaN7yNOtzUPdIzoFWFE/s1600/DSC_0799.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They want to hold her, feed her, hug her, play with her. She is usually up for it all.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXftRQAvgnsrwd82osVBY7X6aCUSpD_D4COsERLQOvmSB7ndts4JZK9FeWezKQo0tzNBBPpzcdtoV9mJfLBQWUqN-iB2SRuxBDKgVTjMVYKoTpAsNXQDNN7zjZsbh4jTWItIQkjP_01sU/s1600/DSC_0752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXftRQAvgnsrwd82osVBY7X6aCUSpD_D4COsERLQOvmSB7ndts4JZK9FeWezKQo0tzNBBPpzcdtoV9mJfLBQWUqN-iB2SRuxBDKgVTjMVYKoTpAsNXQDNN7zjZsbh4jTWItIQkjP_01sU/s1600/DSC_0752.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I just love watching them all together and seeing everyone's instant love for their youngest sister!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/150/A6A708F8C798875EE8C7808EE57D5165.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br />
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<br />Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-47518646399943168162014-12-19T19:03:00.000-05:002014-12-19T19:03:10.606-05:00Final Day<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I think that I am the only one in our travel group who feels this way, but I can hardly believe it is time to head home. I am actually sad to leave China.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw5VIDoEuF_OayK4jrnZMKsU4jcr8mo3Yivgsue5aNwX4NdK7iZjOmwkEUngEbOr0omil1BcdH3P5lwsEFeBH5hgb1DricQnnY79ylIRJzTihlwGTP8qyMOygjN_dEkXB6hmyKYvR2L0/s1600/DSC_0630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw5VIDoEuF_OayK4jrnZMKsU4jcr8mo3Yivgsue5aNwX4NdK7iZjOmwkEUngEbOr0omil1BcdH3P5lwsEFeBH5hgb1DricQnnY79ylIRJzTihlwGTP8qyMOygjN_dEkXB6hmyKYvR2L0/s1600/DSC_0630.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The trip has been both long and fast. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Expected and, oh so, unexpected.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4ipxkI9cqlYNmJyUkao1e_zol-F7WeesGBGLvdb5pB_5eofqS7lrv2RuzWSxOi77Q-fhBplZSoEj_xzBvDwIf4vm48kNFZHgEyo_Qdl0OqTLTGIXupK89TDJCzLtdL6uwFu-oOdM3eQ/s1600/DSC_0612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4ipxkI9cqlYNmJyUkao1e_zol-F7WeesGBGLvdb5pB_5eofqS7lrv2RuzWSxOi77Q-fhBplZSoEj_xzBvDwIf4vm48kNFZHgEyo_Qdl0OqTLTGIXupK89TDJCzLtdL6uwFu-oOdM3eQ/s1600/DSC_0612.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It has been so much more than I could have dared to believe. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQV6shy05Od5Z6Wf0L6dI2Gzq8k2XfTreopg7VCBwGYXtqFPc0tNTNxKutv7zpsSPnONCGG-EqxD5jWdGAzfcP1f3G-0ehUnQFnKkKAovFJl4hRIMW17GcTnRgxYKVb-sgq1J40H25vk/s1600/DSC_0706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQV6shy05Od5Z6Wf0L6dI2Gzq8k2XfTreopg7VCBwGYXtqFPc0tNTNxKutv7zpsSPnONCGG-EqxD5jWdGAzfcP1f3G-0ehUnQFnKkKAovFJl4hRIMW17GcTnRgxYKVb-sgq1J40H25vk/s1600/DSC_0706.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So much that I feared, and then prayed through, has not come to pass...and I have felt <i>carried</i> these days in China.</span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Isa-46-4" id="en-NIV-18591" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">Even to your old age and gray hairs</span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-46-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">I am He,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18591B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18591B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> I am He who will sustain you.</span></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span class="text Isa-46-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">I have made you and I will carry you;</span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-46-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">I will sustain<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18591C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18591C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> you and I will rescue you.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Isa-46-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Isaiah 46:4</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEOmT6XGkyexOQye6R3lzjO0GMg29ZiqxPc297mNVCPv2IqjwbimcwLh9psyr_QV5_6D4C42HomuKbovVfFMa9LplwRgZkDB8IKdGKt64bCvZaHuFty04RAkkgFKu_LA5wKMtyn8bufw/s1600/DSC_0704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEOmT6XGkyexOQye6R3lzjO0GMg29ZiqxPc297mNVCPv2IqjwbimcwLh9psyr_QV5_6D4C42HomuKbovVfFMa9LplwRgZkDB8IKdGKt64bCvZaHuFty04RAkkgFKu_LA5wKMtyn8bufw/s1600/DSC_0704.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This country represents so much to me. It has been here that I have received 4 of the greatest gifts of my life. It is woven into the fabric of my heart and I pray that I get to return again and again.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxkZoM1QcHg7rDIlL8SsGw7XA7SEp2cDjo1GqjhPTdFo3UyWNmECBWv4mbkGZJG3L9_AsV6ninoGon4M_jcoapyQrPKuFkyfocB3Zz-0WjEqa2FWKRGciGIa7t825GMqTabyBhDzavv4/s1600/DSC_0653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxkZoM1QcHg7rDIlL8SsGw7XA7SEp2cDjo1GqjhPTdFo3UyWNmECBWv4mbkGZJG3L9_AsV6ninoGon4M_jcoapyQrPKuFkyfocB3Zz-0WjEqa2FWKRGciGIa7t825GMqTabyBhDzavv4/s1600/DSC_0653.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But I know that He did not call me to China to stay in China [at least this time]. He has called me to bring our Bei Bei home. To join her family and to be loved on and played with by a whole host of siblings who can't wait to meet her in person. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'll try to share her!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHYaeLx77zHTpAonafCHD-WXf_g_bzg2ZZvFSH4ccUqPPyJFFg0GgijcMzV1CCJTQKsrwZ-MKTjt0QVcdRiWIZTqpqX9-5kUL1RdV3RZBBj-V4ig44249imSpaA2IhmTi97XRZ_MWkzk/s1600/DSC_0682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHYaeLx77zHTpAonafCHD-WXf_g_bzg2ZZvFSH4ccUqPPyJFFg0GgijcMzV1CCJTQKsrwZ-MKTjt0QVcdRiWIZTqpqX9-5kUL1RdV3RZBBj-V4ig44249imSpaA2IhmTi97XRZ_MWkzk/s1600/DSC_0682.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The last few nights, I have lain in bed thanking Him for all who have been praying for us...for the whole host of "Elijahs"...ones we know personally, those who know Sophie Joy Bei Bei personally, and those who only know us by prayer. We are humbled by the large number of warriors He has called to attention on our family's behalf. And, once again, I repeat Psalm 126:3...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy!</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigfWY352EY_NRpo5l_z4XgZ-AUoU_u8JN1G4qxhp5A_gidIFLAyHE4wgijSE5YtJmg0bFy4c8lpxC3mGZbuIVvj6ElVqfb1CgvZG9cEE4iu10ZHRA1uofLDVqzkPLT9_tfFTU9VNA2Fk/s1600/DSC_0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigfWY352EY_NRpo5l_z4XgZ-AUoU_u8JN1G4qxhp5A_gidIFLAyHE4wgijSE5YtJmg0bFy4c8lpxC3mGZbuIVvj6ElVqfb1CgvZG9cEE4iu10ZHRA1uofLDVqzkPLT9_tfFTU9VNA2Fk/s1600/DSC_0616.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span></div>
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<br />Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-14476685515647217102014-12-17T04:58:00.001-05:002014-12-17T04:58:03.760-05:00Stretching Our Legs <br />
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After several days of stable health, we have decided to get out of the hotel a little bit. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTKsUkeiFBh_agpPeMJ3990u5mEIQP7smwVqdVv5Mrn0oRGMjPZQfOO2qWaV3PCXYlThn89A1rR48yuSURu1qNv1yz3GWEiCOygV2B4A6ecn5_djj1cBd9gqR5GBZXEBhY5YLbuc3L44/s1600/20141214_190249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTKsUkeiFBh_agpPeMJ3990u5mEIQP7smwVqdVv5Mrn0oRGMjPZQfOO2qWaV3PCXYlThn89A1rR48yuSURu1qNv1yz3GWEiCOygV2B4A6ecn5_djj1cBd9gqR5GBZXEBhY5YLbuc3L44/s1600/20141214_190249.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mexican food in China! Tekila is the restaurant if you are every in the area. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjwzfNld66EoLfT3W9aY1lydQT-u7het2_ZihiJuBeTXyxruGVw3_VENlaV0jZRpmzJtez0VUTwDV3m8NGP4azDrPzD-ZVQpvZaRKs47q3WZK3_xysTETe1JrdZrguPeQeusLqi4perA/s1600/20141215_192228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjwzfNld66EoLfT3W9aY1lydQT-u7het2_ZihiJuBeTXyxruGVw3_VENlaV0jZRpmzJtez0VUTwDV3m8NGP4azDrPzD-ZVQpvZaRKs47q3WZK3_xysTETe1JrdZrguPeQeusLqi4perA/s1600/20141215_192228.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pearl River Cruise with the tallest building in Guangzhou in the background.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcD6PMAyvtsJoi3_lhn65NeCsb44aBhUsfiFXGpFw0mz3gq5Ls-9o-V2AbgkLizVNdHNy1W6n8PTXB3Y0uj7ci8JQUImaGRgwupw0tSIfepQE19YpbAv53MllVsI2Rn07-cEeG6kWPgc/s1600/20141215_192006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcD6PMAyvtsJoi3_lhn65NeCsb44aBhUsfiFXGpFw0mz3gq5Ls-9o-V2AbgkLizVNdHNy1W6n8PTXB3Y0uj7ci8JQUImaGRgwupw0tSIfepQE19YpbAv53MllVsI2Rn07-cEeG6kWPgc/s1600/20141215_192006.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3-aOW8OKGtDfhPlH_msKG74PEwKyrEKTTEef7yJgQnYNWLySoMCpsq2C95NHqFjQXtzCZW_aRvjpC9Udqy8lmY-E6m18e_-uE13lpOQGXFFcj3p9CNTflf_67bZW8Wwgpn0Y2qX5tWw/s1600/20141215_185057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3-aOW8OKGtDfhPlH_msKG74PEwKyrEKTTEef7yJgQnYNWLySoMCpsq2C95NHqFjQXtzCZW_aRvjpC9Udqy8lmY-E6m18e_-uE13lpOQGXFFcj3p9CNTflf_67bZW8Wwgpn0Y2qX5tWw/s1600/20141215_185057.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guides made it a pizza party since the food on the cruise is notoriously bad. It was pretty bad 4 years ago! The cruise was nice, though! </td></tr>
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Sophie seems to enjoy getting out of the room, though she loves playing in the room, too!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwMEtsVGq6G0etNX217GPIm8oPJTrrRaGoU_V67k7UJMQN-fkxyZ5sKty13Ih-CHyeRFI86gyFWxT43Dr8iTMSHJp18hsJBmANIM43hUQ7bquHm-LyHi2ZLkl5XlMP_A0_PeQ70G0TGE/s1600/20141216_110358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwMEtsVGq6G0etNX217GPIm8oPJTrrRaGoU_V67k7UJMQN-fkxyZ5sKty13Ih-CHyeRFI86gyFWxT43Dr8iTMSHJp18hsJBmANIM43hUQ7bquHm-LyHi2ZLkl5XlMP_A0_PeQ70G0TGE/s1600/20141216_110358.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My girl found a Mercedes at the Pearl Market and hopped right in. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jg-x8y9n8zT2mq1l1Sj6ID9kbtVAKNvVrmW5280ypk0S_BDf3hRX8TQ6pD7rjSgtiAuR-IbPZbTGMWt4GQucha_z6mEs31a7fZnW92POeUMD9TXY7jdV1vm86rDQLPCYh9OUDX5zE48/s1600/20141216_110219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jg-x8y9n8zT2mq1l1Sj6ID9kbtVAKNvVrmW5280ypk0S_BDf3hRX8TQ6pD7rjSgtiAuR-IbPZbTGMWt4GQucha_z6mEs31a7fZnW92POeUMD9TXY7jdV1vm86rDQLPCYh9OUDX5zE48/s1600/20141216_110219.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason, one of our guides, giving her a push. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvAP5QzqYPrYqSnbXBTLqPswJuWs_5eftx74GPjB6PSkIObGbIOnB-YmBhnrzT-mKgXHR-1gHyEelT8jmIR64ZzDE7K8DQrlIY1uTzyGg6FxV1jMQpXZVHYQKkxSf4lutiHePAxPIIz8/s1600/20141216_110250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvAP5QzqYPrYqSnbXBTLqPswJuWs_5eftx74GPjB6PSkIObGbIOnB-YmBhnrzT-mKgXHR-1gHyEelT8jmIR64ZzDE7K8DQrlIY1uTzyGg6FxV1jMQpXZVHYQKkxSf4lutiHePAxPIIz8/s1600/20141216_110250.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kevin's response to the Pearl Market.</td></tr>
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I am so thankful Sophie was well enough for us to go to the Pearl Market. We get each of our children a Pearl bracelet for their wedding day. Sophie needed one! We gave the first bracelet away to our daughter in law last year! You buy pearls by the strand and then can have them made into 2 bracelets, so now we have one extra. Hmmm...<br />
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Sadly, we are still having internet trouble, so we can only upload a few pictures and only the ones on my phone.<br />
Please keep praying for Sophie's health! Pray specifically for no fevers, especially on the plane and that her catheter would continue flowing well.<br />
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I'll close by copying a FB Meyer's devo from the 16th. My spirit testifies to this!<br />
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST</span></div>
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">"Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you."-- <a class="lbsBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Jn 15.16" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Jn%2015.16" style="color: blue; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Jn 15:16</a>.</span><br />
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">"All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, And, lo, I am with you all the days, even unto the end of the age."-- <a class="lbsBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Mat 28.18" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Mat%2028.18" style="color: blue; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Mat 28:18</a>, <a class="lbsBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Mat 28.19" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Mat%2028.19" style="color: blue; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">19</a>, <a class="lbsBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Mat 28.20" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Mat%2028.20" style="color: blue; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">20</a> (R.V.).</span><br />
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">IT IS a wonderful thing to hear these words from the lips of our Lord, when we remember what the Devil said to Him at the beginning of His ministry (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Lk 4.6" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Lk%204.6" style="color: blue; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Lk 4:6</a>). Evidently the sceptre had been wrested from the hand of the prince of this world. Our Lord is supreme in heaven, and equally so on earth. <u>He has authority over winds and waves;</u> over the natural world with its laws and elements; over gold mines and harvest fields; over the minds and souls of all men who have been purchased by His precious blood. <u>It would greatly facilitate our obedience to His Command if we realized that the whole world is His by creation and redemption, and that wherever we go throughout its vast territory we are within His domains.</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">Notice the care with which Christ insists that those who were disciples should be taught to observe all His commands (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Mat 28.20" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Mat%2028.20" style="color: blue; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Mat 28:20</a>). He chose the Apostles that they might receive His commands, not for their own obedience alone, but that they might impress them upon others. <u>Obedience is the law of spiritual growth and blessedness</u>. Let us resolve, first to observe whatsoever the Master has appointed; the second, to teach others to do the same. <u>Whenever the task seems too great for our strength, let us remember the precious promise that He is with us always, as the margin puts it--"all the days," Never a day can come with its demands, its call for dutiful obedience, but He will be at hand to bear our burden, to help us by the right hand of His strength, to inspire us by the light of His face.</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;"><u><b>Christian life, after all, comes to this--how much will you obey Christ? </b>If you refuse, you shut yourself out of His best, for He can do nothing for you or with you. But if you surrender yourself to obey, there is no limit to the usefulness and blessedness that must ensue</u> (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Ge 18.18" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Ge%2018.18" style="color: blue; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Ge 18:18</a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Ge 18.19" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Ge%2018.19" style="color: blue; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">19</a>). To live like this, we must abide in Him, and allow His words, by meditation and prayer, to abide in us. <u>Then obedience ceases to be an effort, but it is the fruit of an exuberant life.</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">PRAYER</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;"><b></b><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">Help us to abide in our calling with Thee, to detect Thy presence in every place. May we realise that every place may be a temple, every duty a service, and that we are part of Thy great host, who do Thy bidding, hearkening to the voice of Thy word. AMEN.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span>
In Him,<br />
MandyMandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-75347956614701770752014-12-14T04:36:00.001-05:002014-12-14T04:36:31.076-05:00Getting to Know You<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The last several days have been a whirlwind! Most of the time was spent getting to know our little girl better...both inside and out! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ3CdAlGTSQDCOLxdFEUezEj9GRVXIIIQLf-YfkLzGe91u8oq_6MndXjt-CaoCaoZjPg619S7EyLVyG9mzlfsj4YxF_W8Ooa0cu0Z3WbiWOp7-gquOOp406aBxic42vkIv2MW-RjrLzo/s1600/DSC_0480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ3CdAlGTSQDCOLxdFEUezEj9GRVXIIIQLf-YfkLzGe91u8oq_6MndXjt-CaoCaoZjPg619S7EyLVyG9mzlfsj4YxF_W8Ooa0cu0Z3WbiWOp7-gquOOp406aBxic42vkIv2MW-RjrLzo/s1600/DSC_0480.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She is a treasure and we are just sooooo in love! She has just marched right into our hearts and completely melted them. I don't think that there is one thing she does that I don't find absolutely precious at this point!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNymt2eUjkxexYT-IZrVY3PYdcXZ5QXgD6nb4HEguS4ZwpRzyrLNaXOoxVYfRayIzb1rW2jfXt6_aIrTr8lptNaakFFVFHSxrkTOL5q68rOh92L55-i1SYNeQgBXVhHz44CIZZ0xnstY/s1600/DSC_0468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNymt2eUjkxexYT-IZrVY3PYdcXZ5QXgD6nb4HEguS4ZwpRzyrLNaXOoxVYfRayIzb1rW2jfXt6_aIrTr8lptNaakFFVFHSxrkTOL5q68rOh92L55-i1SYNeQgBXVhHz44CIZZ0xnstY/s1600/DSC_0468.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie fixing my hair!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugs for MaMa!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What we are learning...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sophie is one smart cookie! She picks up on things very quickly and is already mixing Chinese and English together in sentences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She is not easily dissuaded or persuaded when she sets her mind to something! My girl knows what she wants, where it is, and just how to get it! Her trademark smile gets her a long way in that department!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UO1rE5Ex9UGecSQGeH126WqC6d15Bav2sBKiSCuwFvZAvuEmaV_z4fyZ42IKDnb5aKsUX4TacuOV_oAZfPUryF3TSc9ca6C58o0ZxQxz1giVjvfvSJj_LjJrfhyphenhyphentGMzCMqhW3_aWxbE/s1600/sophie+fort+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UO1rE5Ex9UGecSQGeH126WqC6d15Bav2sBKiSCuwFvZAvuEmaV_z4fyZ42IKDnb5aKsUX4TacuOV_oAZfPUryF3TSc9ca6C58o0ZxQxz1giVjvfvSJj_LjJrfhyphenhyphentGMzCMqhW3_aWxbE/s1600/sophie+fort+1.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My girl can sleep! She can fall asleep in a New York minute, just about anywhere. And then she is O.U.T. Waking her is not easy, but once she starts coming to, there is that smile again!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Food, well, go back to that not easily dissuaded or persuaded thing. French fries and yogurt are so far always a go.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdIvOp_TtQ_0DuoYRzRknlQKlebr9JL6nDQyJ1-k2BRt4zuZdNEgKMXtFDMu9oYAD0FL2vU16dLtxW_njIB0lIoA66vbGDO_o9HbDFoU3jWF4W-SE2Pg3czK951YHxGKXrl-PUylhN4A/s1600/dad+and+sophie+breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdIvOp_TtQ_0DuoYRzRknlQKlebr9JL6nDQyJ1-k2BRt4zuZdNEgKMXtFDMu9oYAD0FL2vU16dLtxW_njIB0lIoA66vbGDO_o9HbDFoU3jWF4W-SE2Pg3czK951YHxGKXrl-PUylhN4A/s1600/dad+and+sophie+breakfast.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGntPVmNIToy-XODCi3RAmWX_EgoiKOblf9mBQoJrio73nKQqFxogkykR_H7fVLJ367_Q-eqRMZvPlDC0wtEZRrLgPZi8m7yIjt5WmeWSuGKa-5h2qf9iOlk4pIvoAA173fZR30jPchk/s1600/mom+and+sophie+breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGntPVmNIToy-XODCi3RAmWX_EgoiKOblf9mBQoJrio73nKQqFxogkykR_H7fVLJ367_Q-eqRMZvPlDC0wtEZRrLgPZi8m7yIjt5WmeWSuGKa-5h2qf9iOlk4pIvoAA173fZR30jPchk/s1600/mom+and+sophie+breakfast.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Friendly! She has a way of charming almost everyone she meets. That smile and sweet 'Ni Hao!' or wave and 'Bye, Bye!' accompanied by a blown kiss win everyone over!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3ccvnrYRmOm_09y4jLmnt2IxHihZFMjGxgaQ-nwlYvhIKt2eSBXI54zG297vH5o2XRuzU8gbQGDVmKloY3ZEosjHKBecsOg2EYTtCsJf05MIBDH5opnq48HjuEnn57mUZGCLkklnm0k/s1600/selfie+with+sophie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3ccvnrYRmOm_09y4jLmnt2IxHihZFMjGxgaQ-nwlYvhIKt2eSBXI54zG297vH5o2XRuzU8gbQGDVmKloY3ZEosjHKBecsOg2EYTtCsJf05MIBDH5opnq48HjuEnn57mUZGCLkklnm0k/s1600/selfie+with+sophie.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie with Sophie<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She loves to empty and fill things. This, so far seems to be her favorite pastime</span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, I pulled out the Duplos and she and Daddy built for quite sometime. Her fine motor skills are something!</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As we began Sophie's adoption process, the Lord repeatedly reminded us that she was so much more than a medical file. The day after we received her heart-quaking file, the Lord prompted Show Hope (the organization overseeing her care) to post an article about her personality on their <a href="http://showhope.org/care-centers-spotlight-sophie/" target="_blank">blog</a></span><span style="font-size: large;">. It was that reminder that she was first and foremost a precious little girl, who also happened to have serious medical issues. Just as with our other kids, the medical need will be a part of her life, but it is not who she is. If we had just looked at the file and not at her Heavenly Father who created her heart and her unique, sweet personality, we would have missed out on so much. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We know He has great plans for her! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And, we get a front row seat! All glory and honor and praise to Him! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/150/A6A708F8C798875EE8C7808EE57D5165.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-3042118681268351242014-12-11T04:11:00.001-05:002014-12-13T10:02:08.115-05:00Bullet Train in Xinyang<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When you adopt a child from Henan province, you are required to return to the city in which the child was found to apply for their passport. Sophie was from Xinyang, several hundred miles from the capitol city Zhengzhou in which we are staying, so we got to take the Bullet Train rather than van to get there.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LTbHWhpl5eutv_6yuYuemNt0xgMQSzJX4OqoN9sJP5VDCfDEUyD5882WcDfj0krl_VOs0VaA6MkxxYdNkZFSvXg6eQTwXOonvtf2s-xu89lyDw9oUzqGSASqhoZEBAVX7EKC9EhnlWw/s1600/bullet+train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LTbHWhpl5eutv_6yuYuemNt0xgMQSzJX4OqoN9sJP5VDCfDEUyD5882WcDfj0krl_VOs0VaA6MkxxYdNkZFSvXg6eQTwXOonvtf2s-xu89lyDw9oUzqGSASqhoZEBAVX7EKC9EhnlWw/s1600/bullet+train.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If it weren't for the fact that Joshua's passport trip holds some of our worst memories in China, we would have been very excited going into the trip instead of apprehensive. Joshua was a very sick little boy on that drive and it was quite stressful...and messy. Suffice it to say, we've done much praying leading into the trip to Xinyang! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLdj-Q81FXBsl8QY_xLlPopp9Oc8ktJHPkREXDk3o4sxOTjfw2k3xUSBDcDUGoE-ip30NuQgJZ2AfClngnVXZbRyfRWsktYRURPO4sfiAubVcU3k19z7hVJ7cwsQAPn7MStoNN9-BCZA/s1600/bullet+train+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLdj-Q81FXBsl8QY_xLlPopp9Oc8ktJHPkREXDk3o4sxOTjfw2k3xUSBDcDUGoE-ip30NuQgJZ2AfClngnVXZbRyfRWsktYRURPO4sfiAubVcU3k19z7hVJ7cwsQAPn7MStoNN9-BCZA/s1600/bullet+train+2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The bullet train was an answer to prayer! It was much more comfortable than a van and actually somewhat relaxing. Well, at least as relaxing as it gets when the cutest 3 year old in the world is wiggling in your lap and shoving Chinese kiddie snacks in your mouth every few seconds! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvX6Y29Aeu01atPc2Lzv_GiHR0PuDd2Phyphenhyphen6XT3BiHwRob9pnRJfW4OZIhtFZdGAgWHbfAc8v5YIGfeW0NaZwN-KDXLuAw1w5LXx5LqrkYs3yUJFWOAQiVYsFWC2kK1fdmUucTmJH3kPg/s1600/DSC_0343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvX6Y29Aeu01atPc2Lzv_GiHR0PuDd2Phyphenhyphen6XT3BiHwRob9pnRJfW4OZIhtFZdGAgWHbfAc8v5YIGfeW0NaZwN-KDXLuAw1w5LXx5LqrkYs3yUJFWOAQiVYsFWC2kK1fdmUucTmJH3kPg/s1600/DSC_0343.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmF6TiMq5Kbq02SsFKJHElyH-zFp_D8pqArJkbf7WxESHfMLE8wffbe23o_oWj2fNBuu6Yku38asITU8fUxLK3vufXPuzzB5GTGSKnvghD5RBW8u3CAwQS4Vvtq95KPRjfQpwtXKZlbMM/s1600/sophie+and+friend+on+train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmF6TiMq5Kbq02SsFKJHElyH-zFp_D8pqArJkbf7WxESHfMLE8wffbe23o_oWj2fNBuu6Yku38asITU8fUxLK3vufXPuzzB5GTGSKnvghD5RBW8u3CAwQS4Vvtq95KPRjfQpwtXKZlbMM/s1600/sophie+and+friend+on+train.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie playing with the newly adopted daughter of another family in our group who also went by train to their daughter's finding city. They got off a stop before us.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beginning at 7:15am, we walked to the new Zhengzhou subway, took the Subway to the Bullet Train, took the train 1 hour 45 minutes to Xinyang, </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlcTA8yx0FhJ1IWKP1OrXLtMay-l35Or2JyI77knwqTnmeJsd9GbD3hspP4k0HwqUfzbjjPLtCWaG92hoFBu_4mGURM1FX8NxLlbZ5M1vD6fkncc7MhTeKnYIIxEReEhqJcN_73uuoKY/s1600/Xinyang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlcTA8yx0FhJ1IWKP1OrXLtMay-l35Or2JyI77knwqTnmeJsd9GbD3hspP4k0HwqUfzbjjPLtCWaG92hoFBu_4mGURM1FX8NxLlbZ5M1vD6fkncc7MhTeKnYIIxEReEhqJcN_73uuoKY/s1600/Xinyang.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">caught a taxi to the Public Service Bureau,</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jd9IS30VCQpZXvcCMnhtaleOWFbCi0znYVKBFVAm0k_QbTiCsaW7V-aE30u9RC96RilObWFJNp2mB9HncIQdj9HbKgmxa5684bgp8AojuACAx7EgHR8HSL1AW90k2FgzceUtUPvnUA0/s1600/sophie+&+mama+in+taxi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jd9IS30VCQpZXvcCMnhtaleOWFbCi0znYVKBFVAm0k_QbTiCsaW7V-aE30u9RC96RilObWFJNp2mB9HncIQdj9HbKgmxa5684bgp8AojuACAx7EgHR8HSL1AW90k2FgzceUtUPvnUA0/s1600/sophie+&+mama+in+taxi.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGlbvH3OIpRMsZXw2Aa7bJ6T7JZQjvU1vWxUz3l0DFtiyIUcEyu_on9nT21FYb3ymmGkJEqW7YkYH6ebJaRmWASK2oK5TEVJ85PZAaiHXaMNE_v61tU0dyRgSzSvKyE55WJMhFH8gHNw/s1600/sophie+&+Daddy+in+taxi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGlbvH3OIpRMsZXw2Aa7bJ6T7JZQjvU1vWxUz3l0DFtiyIUcEyu_on9nT21FYb3ymmGkJEqW7YkYH6ebJaRmWASK2oK5TEVJ85PZAaiHXaMNE_v61tU0dyRgSzSvKyE55WJMhFH8gHNw/s1600/sophie+&+Daddy+in+taxi.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> applied for the passport (another unhappy looking Sophie Joy Bei Bei in that one!), </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6McixcTQQczpEYodiGSxijvAGXiHxBy0FXYIucsetgqKgnDYt5wSw0nOnAxu9JyINT3bJ5akVK3NNMTvPU0VcNOwgK41HTXeohw5CiLcgcZSX88sNVTVQMDwEk0_gQcmcgGmfr8TPBM/s1600/Xinyang+PSB+office+passport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6McixcTQQczpEYodiGSxijvAGXiHxBy0FXYIucsetgqKgnDYt5wSw0nOnAxu9JyINT3bJ5akVK3NNMTvPU0VcNOwgK41HTXeohw5CiLcgcZSX88sNVTVQMDwEk0_gQcmcgGmfr8TPBM/s1600/Xinyang+PSB+office+passport.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and then reversed the whole process!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-WQz6lajU-JdsddHqizlLNwZJHqJKJzJhyphenhyphent9uLB-V5b3o0P30VxrXK3WhxBDfqG8ElMZr5O-ZJpVpyOYICAlmdwRoNkjdX5P4_qCQk4mY097t7hpgnKsTms2WNx8HmKYrdoTdT3qfYY/s1600/Xinyang+train+station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-WQz6lajU-JdsddHqizlLNwZJHqJKJzJhyphenhyphent9uLB-V5b3o0P30VxrXK3WhxBDfqG8ElMZr5O-ZJpVpyOYICAlmdwRoNkjdX5P4_qCQk4mY097t7hpgnKsTms2WNx8HmKYrdoTdT3qfYY/s1600/Xinyang+train+station.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In line to get our train ticket changed to an earlier time. Everything went so quickly we were able to go home 2 trains sooner!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wKsdL0NFNzIY1qiKrPZkPGss_z3nJIUDnlWNaGqvhnfSBfWOxMDZ5-RVX0fTO1CWb_7hX0ZrQlbh3j4bP4fbCRIxEHM6kEevi5gMt70Tb898X3VKZPTkC_EU48AWhfBeRTxP2AgWrX4/s1600/xinyang+train+station+daddy+and+sophie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wKsdL0NFNzIY1qiKrPZkPGss_z3nJIUDnlWNaGqvhnfSBfWOxMDZ5-RVX0fTO1CWb_7hX0ZrQlbh3j4bP4fbCRIxEHM6kEevi5gMt70Tb898X3VKZPTkC_EU48AWhfBeRTxP2AgWrX4/s1600/xinyang+train+station+daddy+and+sophie.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie and Daddy waiting for train to take us back to Zhengzhou.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(scenes from the train ride....)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7ey08t2bqaf4vhMUAqkNCgE5jfSkLCBf_mJCPSX4fzGm2Jma6Mg9BnrdhR0HQ2RwKIKTu8s6DLHocLRzXX4o4faCb1vG2NmDe4CU7B9unxIBV_AJ_sMXsgi0OQq46Na15zSGzNQQ81s/s1600/DSC_0363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7ey08t2bqaf4vhMUAqkNCgE5jfSkLCBf_mJCPSX4fzGm2Jma6Mg9BnrdhR0HQ2RwKIKTu8s6DLHocLRzXX4o4faCb1vG2NmDe4CU7B9unxIBV_AJ_sMXsgi0OQq46Na15zSGzNQQ81s/s1600/DSC_0363.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Other than getting her picture taken, she was a happy girl the whole time and very patient. I couldn't help but think how much Joshua would have loved the bullet train! He would have been so excited! Sophie, on the other hand, preferred interacting with people and snacking!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The time in Xinyang was very fast and we only saw a very small part of this city south of Zhengzhou that was hilly and more agrarian. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We will most likely never be closer geographically to Sophie's birth family than we were today. I wished there was some way to hire a plane to write in the sky...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>She lived! </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>She survived! </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>You saved her life by giving her up</b></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>...and we thank you!</b></i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My heart breaks for the birth families of my three youngest. I want them to know that their babies are loved and getting the medical care they were given up to get. I pray that they come to know Jesus so that even if they never see these precious ones in this life, they will get to spend eternity with them. My heart was raw. And my eyes tear as I type. I can't imagine having been in their positions. Please never forget that the gift of adoption is birthed in searing loss and pain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And, then, like that we were back in Zhengzhou. A little weary and hungry, but, oh so thankful for an easy and problem-free trip!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you so much for praying that Sophie would drink well. She is and she has been fever free. I am getting a crash course in her care and it will take me a little while to become adept at some of it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our little girl has been through so much in her short 3 years. More surgeries than I even know...but many. More procedures than could be counted, but the scars tell of their work. More threats to her health and life than I care to think about, because it turns my stomach. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are overwhelmed with love for Miss Sophie and ache at the thought of any harm coming to her. Please pray that she would not get a fever or UTI (she gets one at least once a month). Pray that she would grow healthy and strong so it could better fight the nasty bacteria that attack her urological system. Pray that she would develop a taste for healthy food as she has been on a diet seemingly deficient of what her body needs to be healthy and strong. Her paperwork says she has a penchant for junk food and sweets, so we will work on that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you so much! God is so good, all the time. He has called us to a task that is beyond us but not beyond Him...and we choose to trust Him. It is well with my soul.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
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<br />Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-19453783255515856472014-12-11T02:53:00.001-05:002014-12-11T02:53:12.002-05:00She's Officially Ours FOREVER!Day 2 with Sophie is the day she officially became ours!<br />
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We had to return to the Civil Affairs Office where we received her, so I wasn't too sure how things would go given her screaming and thrashing about yesterday! Don't be fooled by some of yesterday's pictures, it was a scream fest! I'm sure that everyone was glad they were not us! The Lord had prepared my heart for her reaction and I was actually grateful to see how close she was to her nanny. It means good potential for solid bonding with us in the future! In all things, give thanks!<br />
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But for the return trip, she was fine and we even got a picture of her smiling in front of the big red sign. All of the families were presented with their final adoption decrees and thanked for adopting Henan children...with a special thanks given to the 3 families who were returning to adopt from Henan again! Joshua is also from Henan! After that we headed to get paper work notarized, and then we were done for everything official for the day.<br />
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After lunch, it was time to do some laundry the old-fashioned way! Sophie was my little helper and seemed to know exactly what to do! I gave her a couple of washcloths and she thrilled at dropping them in the water and then wringing them out. <br />
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That evening we needed to make another trip to Wal-Mart and get dinner. Christmas lights and Santa are covering many buildings, though they have no idea what Christmas is about. One of our guides said they aren't allowed to celebrate it and asked if we are in the US.<br />
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Our hotel...</div>
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We met an ex-pat who came up to us and asked if we were here on adoption trip. I learned that he has been living in China for 15 years working with undocumented orphans. That means that they do not have any paperwork listing them as orphans, or as even existing. Without paperwork in China, not only can these children not attend public school, but as they age it will be very difficult to do work or even get a license for their car. His 'charity foundation' gives rears them and gives them a private school education. There are so many areas of ministry in China! One of the sweet girls was with him and they were very helpful to us for finding the little sausages Sophie is accustomed to.<br />
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Dinner we decided needed to be close and fast. Much like when you are in that predicament in the US, we opted for fast food...Burger King. We ordered what looked like Bacon Cheeseburgers, but were called Italian Whoppers (or something like that). They were slathered in a spicy Marinara Sauce. Interesting. The fries were good, though.<br />
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As for Sophie, she is doing well and is smiley, friendly, giggly, snuggly, beyond adorable. I didn't think it was possible for her to be cuter than her pictures, but she is! Probably because in real life her personality takes over. Oh, my! Are we ever in love! She makes it so easy! How her heart has blossomed under such difficult physical circumstances is a testimony to the grace of God and the love that Show Hope and New Hope provide through their special care centers.<br />
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In Him,<br />
MandyMandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-43028067231059548142014-12-09T02:33:00.001-05:002014-12-09T02:33:31.885-05:00Sophie Day<span style="font-size: large;">After waking at 4:40am and an emotional morning of waiting, we received Sophie in the very same office where we first met Joshua!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One family's daughter was already there when our group entered and before we knew it children were arriving minutes apart. Sophie arrived around 30 minutes after us. I had been watching the door, but had moved to a one side of it and then all of a sudden I heard one of our guides say, "Yang Bei Bei!" and there she was walking through the door wearing the tiara and purse we had sent her!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She was not a happy girl to see her MaMa and BaBa! She started crying almost the moment she saw us and barely stopped the entire time we were at the office. Let's just say we won't be framing any of the pictures from this morning! Sweet girl had come with her favorite nanny and the nurse and all she wanted was to get back to that nanny! I don't blame her...and that's exactly how she <em>should</em> respond in this situation. She loved her and wanted to get away from this stranger!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They told us she had been so excited this morning and in the car on the way over...that they had been showing her our pictures and explaining everything...but then when she arrived, she started crying.</span><br />
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These are the few pictures of her not screaming and crying! Praise God for the play area! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wasn't too sure how things were going to go for the rest of the day, but as soon as we left the office and were away from the nanny, her entire demeanor changed. She settled down and started smiling and, once in the room, talking, exploring, and playing. Her nurse came to the room with us and explained and demonstrated all of her various procedures and instructions to us. And, then, it was just the three of us. Playing and getting to know one another.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She's done so well since we left the office! She is cuter in person than in her pictures...who knew that was possible? She is smart and quick to catch on. She has the cutest raspy voice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are in awe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Please, please pray that she will drink well and stay adequately hydrated! This is vital to keeping away infection. Pray that we would quickly become comfortable with her care and that the Lord would enable us to not miss anything we need to do.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you so much for all of your prayers thus far and for loving our little girl!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
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<br />Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-19469762490927744862014-12-07T08:52:00.003-05:002014-12-07T08:52:46.448-05:00Zhengzhou: Take 2<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodbye to Beijing, hello again to Zhengzhou!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My day started at 3:40 am. Jet lag is grand. Was wide awake. Worked out OK since we had to leave the hotel at 6am to get to the airport.!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today has been non-stop and things are getting real. Serious stomach flipp</span><span style="font-size: large;">ing going on as we returned to the city in which we met Joshua, knowing that in a few short hours we will meet Sophie! How amazing it was to unpack all the girlie cuteness from the suitcases! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow is the day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We will meet her at what is 9-10:30 Sunday EST. That is Monday morning here. So if you are awake, pleas</span><span style="font-size: large;">e pray. Sophie will have a nurse coming with her and the doctor who had been overseeing her care will come, too! Feeling like we will get answers to many of our questions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I would love to share more, but the 3:40 am thing has turned my brain to mush. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Until next time, enjoy some pictures of Wal-Mart!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mandy</span>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-11681530058941157082014-12-06T07:56:00.002-05:002014-12-06T07:56:51.504-05:00The Great Wall(s) of China<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We arrived in Beijing yesterday afternoon after the best flight to China I have ever had. Could have something to do with not having to care for little people...or watching 4 (yes, 4) movies, and a TV show on building a treehouse. For those of you who know me well, you know TV and movies are not my thing, but yesterday it was pure bliss. So what if two of the movies were animated! They were the best ones, by the way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today our agency spent the day trying to keep us awake and called it sightseeing! This morning we went to a section of the Great Wall of China. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last time, 2.5 years ago, we went to a different section which had a gondola to take you up to the wall and a tobagen sled to bring you down. After our stair-climbing exercise, we much appreciated the gondola/tobagen aspect of the other section of the wall! This time, however, we were not deluged by record-breaking rains and could actually see the wall and not the clouds that we walked through on the wall, so that has endeared it to me somewhat! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was a spectacular view and certainly brought home the enormity of the wall! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We should have take a picture of the steps to show how no two steps are the same height or even the same slant! Add in centuries of wind and rain to erode irregularly and it makes for an interesting climb and descent!</span><br />
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If you count 5 towers up from the tower in the foreground with the red roof and then go a little beyond...that is how far up and then back down we went! Plus, we continued descending down to a body of water that passes under the wall.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We also tried to scale the Great (fire)wall of China. Our VPN has been not very successful and I'm not so sure it will be reliable. I was able to get onto social media briefly, but I'm not confident in our future abilities to get on Facebook, Instagram, or Blogger. Emma may have to post in my stead!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for praying! Keep it up! We are less than 48 hours from seeing Sophie! My stomach just flipped typing that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow, we head to Zhengzhou!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/150/A6A708F8C798875EE8C7808EE57D5165.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-56629640225838395432014-12-04T12:05:00.001-05:002014-12-06T09:35:09.105-05:00Going to Get Sophie!!!!!!<div dir="ltr">
Today is the day! </div>
<div dir="ltr">
We are on a plane bound for China!</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Destination? </div>
<div dir="ltr">
Sophie Joy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10402786_1519494148311018_4543566139795150184_n.jpg?oh=f6e2c1d71214de9a71641a4e87370a28&oe=551C5F85" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10402786_1519494148311018_4543566139795150184_n.jpg?oh=f6e2c1d71214de9a71641a4e87370a28&oe=551C5F85" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-32081069870073557862014-12-01T21:06:00.000-05:002014-12-01T21:06:13.466-05:00Bondservant<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I found this post in my draft box. I had written it over the summer a month or so after receiving word that Sophie was ours. The impact of this truth spoken to my heart anchors my heart still today..</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On our way home from Florida a few weeks ago, I spent a couple of hours, listening to Jon Courson teach on 1 Peter 1. I think Peter is my most favorite disciple because I see so much of me in this often-knocked on disciple.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Peter began his first letter describing himself as a bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bond servants were slaves, who after serving a full 6 years and were due their freedom, chose instead to stay and willingly remain a slave to their master for life. The master had been good to them and they wanted to live to serve them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When the slave made this decision, the master would take him to the doorpost of the house and drive an awl though the slave's earlobe marking him as a bondservant.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This facet of the bond servant-master relationship was not new to me. But what was said next was so obvious, yet had not really occurred to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Not only was the slave making a commitment, but so also was the master. As the master drove the awl through his servant's ear, he was also dedicating <i>himself </i>for life. He was committing himself to care and provide for his bondservant and all of his needs for as long as He lived.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This struck me powerfully. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have felt very much like a bondservant as we bring Sophie home. We have a good, loving Master and we have dedicated ourselves to serving Him all of our days. In Sophie, we take on another life commitment, dedicate ourselves again with our lives to serve Him through loving on her...joyously, but soberly. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But to hear that as I willfully yielded my life to Him again that He, too, made a commitment to me...to meet all of my needs according to His riches in glory and all of the needs we will have in caring for her! Peace and gratitude filled my heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And I am encouraged.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/150/A6A708F8C798875EE8C7808EE57D5165.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-80629067746585302642014-11-30T05:30:00.000-05:002014-11-30T05:30:00.617-05:00China Dates!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For months the question has been: When will we travel to get Sophie?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The answer, due to the medical expedite, was a great big question mark. It all depended on how fast or slow all of the various individual steps of the adoption process were expedited.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It had seemed like it could have been as early as mid-October to as late as the end of December.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, now we know. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We got Travel Approval on Monday and a US Consulate appointment on Tuesday. We booked flights on Wednesday.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We leave to for China and December 4 and return home on December 20!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We get Sophie on Monday, December 8! Eeeek!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfy908RvEZP2kg-f2IzTU7nyf4k-N_OJFIOV7eabECs7O8YU3HV49sFX95L0glvVY3krCITE0eLvCV_5yQzASjk7chjPPsPUiHp_Hww0q58YDJ0GRmkUb_6i8DybdslquZv5CqOM43CA/s1600/Yang+Bei+Bei12014-9-21+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfy908RvEZP2kg-f2IzTU7nyf4k-N_OJFIOV7eabECs7O8YU3HV49sFX95L0glvVY3krCITE0eLvCV_5yQzASjk7chjPPsPUiHp_Hww0q58YDJ0GRmkUb_6i8DybdslquZv5CqOM43CA/s1600/Yang+Bei+Bei12014-9-21+(1).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There you have it! After months of wondering, we are days away from having our girl!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with JOY! </span></i> Psalm 126:3</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/150/A6A708F8C798875EE8C7808EE57D5165.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br />
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<br />Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-41384873045029123182014-11-29T05:30:00.000-05:002014-11-29T05:30:01.311-05:00Paid in Full<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You read that right!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sophie's adoption is paid in full!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We began her adoption a little less than 6 months ago with nothing. At that time the Lord, reminded me that He owns that cattle on a thousand hills and that the approximately $30,000 in adoption costs were nothing for Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Insert the medical expedite...now things had to come together faster!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, I have been down this road before with Luke & Joshua's adoption expenses. But I can't say I walked that road very well. But God showed me so much through that. I remember walking our neighborhood during the process for Luke, knowing that money was due in 2 weeks. I was literally begging/instructing God about His promise to provide. I was overwhelmed. I must have been praying something along the lines of: Lord, we need that money <i>now</i>!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I can remember the exact spot on the exact road where the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart, "Mandy, when is the money due?" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I replied, "In 2 weeks, Lord." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And He said to my heart, "That's not <i>now</i>." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I wish I could be speaking this next part to you, instead of typing it, because you would hear how clipped and somewhat annoyed my voice was in reply (lest you get the idea that I am super spiritual!)..."Yes, Lord, technically it is not <i>now</i>." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And then He went on to instruct my heart: "You think that because you can see something coming that you need it <i>now</i>, but that is not <i>now</i>. When you need it, it will be there. Trust Me." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And, that was it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't remember how the money was eventually provided, but it was because we brought our boy home. What I do remember is that lesson. It gave me immense peace throughout the last months. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When it is really needed, God will provide it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And, can I tell you something? Each and every time we needed to pay something for Sophie's adoption...we had every penny and a few to spare! Not always days and weeks in advance like my previous comfort zone (previous level of faith?) demanded...but always right when we needed it!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And, this time, (after the first donation came in, because, honestly, I was worried before then!)...I was at peace and had confidence in Him the whole time. What a gift of grace from Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I frequently give my kids a "do-over" or an opportunity to try again. I feel like that is what God has given me through Sophie's adoption. An opportunity to try again and walk in the assurance that was always mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And, He has never failed me. Not. Once.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is Paid in Full!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/150/A6A708F8C798875EE8C7808EE57D5165.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-48709504728852904252014-10-05T19:12:00.000-04:002014-10-05T19:12:21.890-04:00Medical Expedite<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Where did the last month and half go?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sophie's Medical Expedite.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Adoption Fundraising. Every.Week.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Homeschool.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Lymph node removal surgery (my mom's).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There are times when it seems everything happens at once. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then there are times they really do. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Consuming most of my spare minutes of August and early September were Sophie's medical expedite. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHjWQNmzJ9uOMWboZfAt6p8FlYTgLehcb_TszaqwOR_woWKRQbljNvIbQcIsCMSPV8ETtg63EqVFcacn5cuSoeHJ8xLSGh80gF_VEEX6ouVel_2fiTz5-xeuFbZfpY6z0RAtc_MLze6c/s1600/20140627_152811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHjWQNmzJ9uOMWboZfAt6p8FlYTgLehcb_TszaqwOR_woWKRQbljNvIbQcIsCMSPV8ETtg63EqVFcacn5cuSoeHJ8xLSGh80gF_VEEX6ouVel_2fiTz5-xeuFbZfpY6z0RAtc_MLze6c/s1600/20140627_152811.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of several stacks of adoption paperwork ready to be mailed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, you read that right. Her medical expedite.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In short, this means she will be coming home much sooner than predicted April.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We will be traveling to get her, most likely, in NOVEMBER!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">NOVEMBER!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Although it is exciting to think of her with us so soon, medical expedites are never a happy thing. A medical expedite means that her US doctors and government officials on both sides of the ocean all agree her life is in danger if she is not receiving medical care in the USA <i>soon.</i> Enough to make this mama's heart do an Olympics worthy gymnastics routine! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbn1oTe5EoeEZCXMPozUQkDxt-fEFGcQIoTytXjqROV-Qg2i3rMzxTSmp7YMAwT2IH2bVETrBMGJ4LjoBKKc-m6uoogBy5S1KPjb5AQ77io82EWxGUPL38Y8a24Q2BFmmVN_83zc4mIW8/s1600/Sophie+Joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbn1oTe5EoeEZCXMPozUQkDxt-fEFGcQIoTytXjqROV-Qg2i3rMzxTSmp7YMAwT2IH2bVETrBMGJ4LjoBKKc-m6uoogBy5S1KPjb5AQ77io82EWxGUPL38Y8a24Q2BFmmVN_83zc4mIW8/s1600/Sophie+Joy.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We feel that, at this time, is appropriate to share with you a picture of our Sophie Joy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have debated about how much to share of Sophie's medical condition. Many of you know she has an extremely rare and complex gastrointestinal malformations. She also has a heart condition, which hopefully will not need any surgical intervention. To look at her sweet face and read about her precious personality, one would never know that between her chin and her knees, so very much is in need of medical attention. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of those areas is quite likely her kidneys. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After we received her file, I spoke with a number of specialists in Sophie's condition. Imagine our "exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or imagine" shock turned glee when we discovered that one of the specialists had actually reviewed Sophie's medical file months earlier and recommended both the surgery and procedure she received shortly after! I don't know that I will ever forget the words he spoke to me: "Mrs. M, I did not think that she would live."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then, he went on to inform us that we need to be prepared for the possibility that she will need dialysis and/or a transplant sooner rather than later. There is always a possibility that she won't...we are praying for protection of her kidneys and restoration to complete health there. But it is a real possibility.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As all of this sunk in, I realized we <i>must </i>do what we can to get this little one home as fast as possible. We did what we could and left it in the Lord's hands. He has seen fit to move everything quickly.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Would you please pray with us for God's perfect timing to get Sophie home and for the Great Physician to touch her, keep her well in China, and amaze the doctors here with HIS great work!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/150/A6A708F8C798875EE8C7808EE57D5165.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px !important;" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Psalm 139:13-16</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">For you </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-16253P" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-16253P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">formed my inward parts;</span></div>
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">you <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-16253Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-16253Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>knitted me together in my mother's womb.</span></div>
</span><span class="text Ps-139-14" id="en-ESV-16254" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span><div style="text-align: center;">
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.</div>
</span><span class="text Ps-139-14" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Wonderful are your works;</div>
<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-16254R" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-16254R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-14" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">my soul knows it very well.</span></div>
</span></span><span class="text Ps-139-15" id="en-ESV-16255" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-16255S" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-16255S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">My frame was not hidden from you,</span></div>
</span></span><span class="text Ps-139-15" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;">
when I was being made in secret,</div>
</span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-15" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">intricately woven in <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-16255T" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-16255T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the depths of the earth.</span></div>
</span><span class="text Ps-139-16" id="en-ESV-16256" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span><div style="text-align: center;">
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;</div>
</span><span class="text Ps-139-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;">
in your <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-16256U" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-16256U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>book were written, every one of them,</div>
</span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">the days that were formed for me,</span></div>
</span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">when as yet there was none of them.</span></div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-17372079995174757712014-08-06T22:19:00.001-04:002014-08-06T22:19:05.448-04:00FUNdraising for Sophie Joy<p dir=ltr>The last several weekends have found me in the kitchen on Saturday and my family behind the church's snack bar. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Our church has graciously allowed us to use the snack bar as a fundraiser for Sophie Joy. And The Lord is truly blessing it! We have, to date, been able to pay our first agency fee, home study fees, and USCIS fees!!! One step at a time, He is providing!</p>
<p dir=ltr>So far we've done three weeks at the snack bar and we are slated for the entire month of August. </p>
<p dir=ltr>What has been on the menu?</p>
<p dir=ltr>Week 1: Chicken BBQ sandwiches, chips, soda, basis baked goods.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Week 2: Burrito Bowls with chicken, cilantro lime rice, black beans, salsa, sour cream, cheese and cilantro. Chips, soda and baked goods (including Crystal's yummy cupcakes), of course! </p>
<p dir=ltr>Week 3: Chili and corn bead, chips, soda and, you guessed it. ...baked goods!</p>
<p dir=ltr>I must say, of the baked goods, the brownies are the most popular. They are the most moist, bestest brownies in the world. I only say it because it is true! </p>
<p dir=ltr>Week 4 is coming up and I will have to go simple because I have a great event called Poured Out Saturday (fellowship, worship, corporate prayer. .. join us!). And we have to pick up Emma after church, so clean up has to be fast! </p>
<p dir=ltr>Hot dogs and nachos? That's an old throw back to the Luke fundraising days. </p>
<p dir=ltr>What do you think? Throw out some ideas! Walking tacos? Spaghetti? </p>
<p dir=ltr>I'll tell you more about 2 other fundraisers we currently have going tomorrow. </p>
<p dir=ltr>But until then I'll leave you with 2 hints. ..a word. JAVA</p>
<p dir=ltr>And some pics. ..</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBrzV4wIuDht4hTWyP8YBCtrc47qpxYEV1Bw1GiIkJZl95-efn6nQ3t0ugCji-rv2iK5KlJOQiLGj8P6bIkM9ViR9TQNaZV89ykaXanRlJM8WAXoLLsf9rX6whHpV6_b1v9trSWxcRt0/s1600/PhotoGrid_1407035561962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBrzV4wIuDht4hTWyP8YBCtrc47qpxYEV1Bw1GiIkJZl95-efn6nQ3t0ugCji-rv2iK5KlJOQiLGj8P6bIkM9ViR9TQNaZV89ykaXanRlJM8WAXoLLsf9rX6whHpV6_b1v9trSWxcRt0/s640/PhotoGrid_1407035561962.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlKNBt3PPaVCYfUQ5OwineQOshNYlrVYFtsWRXMMVg0Kz22Tg7P9I3W_D47ZyRymEAM9dCHtXiuySaEnclbvQI6JjzlPXPR7OqXQBsYV8ur6jxgiLUaJYX_l3GLvW1cy7mTnRHbQzEUM/s1600/PhotoGrid_1406434025293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlKNBt3PPaVCYfUQ5OwineQOshNYlrVYFtsWRXMMVg0Kz22Tg7P9I3W_D47ZyRymEAM9dCHtXiuySaEnclbvQI6JjzlPXPR7OqXQBsYV8ur6jxgiLUaJYX_l3GLvW1cy7mTnRHbQzEUM/s640/PhotoGrid_1406434025293.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkxMMm0W3QJkkuwYhvDFhmIYtI7bfFwmJqAftRByU9ZPVRQ6tF9AfDgnadb2cY0LgLgF3xyk8VdHCFNacWWrzKRlsgRjpBJ9rMNxk6clC_ZRdZzXkt5klmONkfGzfUMLCQwWF8mai7zQ/s1600/20140727_093439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkxMMm0W3QJkkuwYhvDFhmIYtI7bfFwmJqAftRByU9ZPVRQ6tF9AfDgnadb2cY0LgLgF3xyk8VdHCFNacWWrzKRlsgRjpBJ9rMNxk6clC_ZRdZzXkt5klmONkfGzfUMLCQwWF8mai7zQ/s640/20140727_093439.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YdDz9aOB2kO588paP9iZhmWSsnsB9d4Q4VMxOlxo8-L1CAJ1DqxoGP5Et4GyLORpXawfBD_4v4o19gcQHcaOxb_tbvfIuxX0trIenwH084n4KfXJxVKozlVMxoMU9jloFFDFo-LdPOg/s1600/20140727_093444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YdDz9aOB2kO588paP9iZhmWSsnsB9d4Q4VMxOlxo8-L1CAJ1DqxoGP5Et4GyLORpXawfBD_4v4o19gcQHcaOxb_tbvfIuxX0trIenwH084n4KfXJxVKozlVMxoMU9jloFFDFo-LdPOg/s640/20140727_093444.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AiR6KxgZ1CchHWcDTji08lIKbZL83kMFU-wP_Zo-miPcWLlfrfJ19UuxU9UPEXux6tLKGBKV2vRcDkCXVawLmTTIyThEapjbyyeBnG8SuHdBqBuCuezqUvJ9sygGcslo9iktbuBUF_g/s1600/20140727_093451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AiR6KxgZ1CchHWcDTji08lIKbZL83kMFU-wP_Zo-miPcWLlfrfJ19UuxU9UPEXux6tLKGBKV2vRcDkCXVawLmTTIyThEapjbyyeBnG8SuHdBqBuCuezqUvJ9sygGcslo9iktbuBUF_g/s640/20140727_093451.jpg"> </a> </div>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-53812784760180153932014-08-01T18:34:00.001-04:002014-08-01T19:08:32.210-04:00And She's Off!<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today is a big day for Emma! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And her Mama and Daddy!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnVnwEsWNtg5ujBQGYYrV6Nf8I0wp-YWzx6G04xXvqbi4F1Q2avoVJFjmnzy4yEP8SdrsDb-0XKE-OpruNK273JsqmjLeQ3bzyqkChA4cbUM7M5-AvUKIPx7rCIA4oePlyys-5dYTWcs/s640/20140801_133159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnVnwEsWNtg5ujBQGYYrV6Nf8I0wp-YWzx6G04xXvqbi4F1Q2avoVJFjmnzy4yEP8SdrsDb-0XKE-OpruNK273JsqmjLeQ3bzyqkChA4cbUM7M5-AvUKIPx7rCIA4oePlyys-5dYTWcs/s640/20140801_133159.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This afternoon Emma boarded a plane bound for Chicago to meet up with her <a href="http://showhope.org/" target="_blank">Show Hope</a> Mission trip team to China! In a few hours she will be flying to Beijing!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhMZhd3FOH7cVRFfgvJx6L5bB35TyLdyHWhrdQE6zMa9fULTfjTgOur2o8S3Yt2ZEKo-myG3vftI5AIEhs9PIoPxlqvBQA4v7fygmgvE8csA3fXTciG5yGQfxirSplsjSnEy5GGjsXoE/s640/20140801_135903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhMZhd3FOH7cVRFfgvJx6L5bB35TyLdyHWhrdQE6zMa9fULTfjTgOur2o8S3Yt2ZEKo-myG3vftI5AIEhs9PIoPxlqvBQA4v7fygmgvE8csA3fXTciG5yGQfxirSplsjSnEy5GGjsXoE/s640/20140801_135903.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Her journey began many months ago with a handwritten letter left on my pillow. In it she detailed her heart to go to China for the summer. The Lord guided her through a series of closed and open doors to the Show Hope team. The very day she applied someone had dropped out of an already full team and she was added in. The hand of God was so evident! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Over the next several months she raised funds and God graciously brought in the entire amount! </span><span style="font-size: large;">Emma is so ready for this trip. She is responsible, mature, dedicated, compassionate, willing to hear from the Lord. We send her off with great pride, admiration, and anticipation of what the Lord is going to do in and through her at Maria's Big House of Hope!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1ZWfue2xLOhtWEjzVmjO7xhZFgauOfilpPArppXBMWsMHFYgDAqb-Ql_wl4mUeQZjRk_FFgs7VombSL0SjC6Lgo8T3_MnRhDZpeRLiHTQ594b1n_hMxQoHCJypFeXQXUkb0wCD5sAII/s640/20140801_124109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1ZWfue2xLOhtWEjzVmjO7xhZFgauOfilpPArppXBMWsMHFYgDAqb-Ql_wl4mUeQZjRk_FFgs7VombSL0SjC6Lgo8T3_MnRhDZpeRLiHTQ594b1n_hMxQoHCJypFeXQXUkb0wCD5sAII/s640/20140801_124109.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Please pray for her and her team as they continue their travels and minister to the orphaned in China. Pray that Emma will come back with a fuller understanding of what the Lord's purpose is for HIS life in her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All that said, I would be lying if I told you that neither Kevin nor I shed a few tears watching our baby girl fly away from us! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOSqLglPNNr_m5K2Rtglvdxr09uCunLt5pcTnii34ZEkMrFrSc2j2iXTv-3r1llxtonFWeDLmReIE9A1Jn5BssRaTDG8fYG-xGZuXl6IUBPM8b3PIIpnnsBw-ct21zufqKeDrhcdt_yg/s640/20140801_131428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOSqLglPNNr_m5K2Rtglvdxr09uCunLt5pcTnii34ZEkMrFrSc2j2iXTv-3r1llxtonFWeDLmReIE9A1Jn5BssRaTDG8fYG-xGZuXl6IUBPM8b3PIIpnnsBw-ct21zufqKeDrhcdt_yg/s640/20140801_131428.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Always a difficult thing for a parent to do but this is so good and we couldn't be more happy for her or proud of her!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgS9t1yfbhJwswFsZaJRmXQ7JeskYG8iA5_dpVbZHZEBokHWcImg5fW-E82dPo6JGK1nu_lQoiKPA3g7wCcIF8w8FBeR0fstrgaJAIIzc67oV_eu1ejh2HHmC1L3zoxCg1LO-0UWxkrsc/s640/20140801_135541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgS9t1yfbhJwswFsZaJRmXQ7JeskYG8iA5_dpVbZHZEBokHWcImg5fW-E82dPo6JGK1nu_lQoiKPA3g7wCcIF8w8FBeR0fstrgaJAIIzc67oV_eu1ejh2HHmC1L3zoxCg1LO-0UWxkrsc/s640/20140801_135541.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Him, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
Mandy</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This week we celebrated my favorite day in July...Joshua's Forever Family Day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He was so excited and kept saying, "It's my family day!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was a <i>super </i>full day (super is one of Joshua's favorite words...usually used 2 or 3 times in succession when he's really excited!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The morning began with a home visit with our social worker for Sophie Joy's home study. Then we headed off to a celebratory lunch at Joshua's choice, Chick Fil A! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone was very excited to not only go...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the best panoramic in the world!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> but to also have ice cream!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The evening was filled with VBS, which I think Joshua wishes was an everyday, year round thing. He has been sooooo excited! The little kids were often allowed to come up on stage and help lead the worship songs and Joshua loved the opportunity. He is our little entertainer, for sure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Joshua is in the tie-dye shirt in the center turned around trying to figure out what to do! </span><br />
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Joshua smiling in his seat (center). </div>
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Emma in the background (center, orange shirt)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTRZ26Yn80tfeK79yUoSaq78uX2m6dpqYjfPJ_HyXvY_ubPYAEP8eKhUNqTEsDObgLj3wHnFpUjU_1J24NvgET9AbqTN0sd8aOvs5lyzwWuGYqQ6u-Zv_W_MnsrhPuT0ABQXAgX6LaWw/s1600/Lily+at+VBS+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTRZ26Yn80tfeK79yUoSaq78uX2m6dpqYjfPJ_HyXvY_ubPYAEP8eKhUNqTEsDObgLj3wHnFpUjU_1J24NvgET9AbqTN0sd8aOvs5lyzwWuGYqQ6u-Zv_W_MnsrhPuT0ABQXAgX6LaWw/s1600/Lily+at+VBS+2014.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily attending VBS...all week! This is a MAJOR, BIG deal for her! Maybe she'll go to Sunday School now? Doubtful!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Joshua has grown so much this year! He is our thankful, happy, helpful boy. A neighbor of ours who is recovering from knee surgery told us a few weeks ago that he wanted to knock on our door just so he could have Joshua come and smile at him!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He loves homeschool (he asks me almost everyday of the summer if we will do school today!). Colors, counting, listening to stories, pattern blocks, geoboards, sensory play, alphabet themed weeks. You name it he loved it. Except for a few crafts. "I don't like crafts, Mama." he's told me more than once. Unless it involves paint!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He still loves anything involving a ball and is definitely an enthusiastic fan of all things sport...football, soccer (Yes, he loved the World Cup and he and Lily played it in our family room. He said he was Argentina. Lily picked the US.), hockey, and (I can barely bring myself to say it) baseball.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">His legs have been cast free and he walks so well. He can run, ride a scooter, pedal a trike, kick a ball...hard! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Joshua brings fun and laughter into our lives! Words can't do justice to the blessing he is to our family and how incredibly awed we are to be his family!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/150/A6A708F8C798875EE8C7808EE57D5165.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px !important;" /></a><br />
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<br />Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-44185795634293808342014-07-20T23:00:00.001-04:002014-07-20T23:06:52.159-04:00Yard Sale for Sophie Joy<div dir="ltr">
Yesterday we had our second yard sale for Sophie Joy. </div>
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The first was under the radar because we hadn't announced her adoption yet. </div>
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But this one! This one I could welcome each customer with the words, "Welcome to our adoption fundraiser yard sale! All prices are make me an offer! " Joshua would often loudly announce her name after I gave the spiel. </div>
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We were able to raise a little less than $200 and were so thankful to our friends from church who donated a trailer full of yard sale items. </div>
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The Lord reminded me before we even got Sophie's file, that even though we don't have the money for the adoption fees, He does. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, He said, and He would sell a few. Money is no mountain for Him. Seems like it to us! But, it must be a mirage, because if He is leading, guiding...He must also be providing. We are watching Him begin to bring in that provision.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuv7Q3HeTLq6FGx2zSTeOOCQEr1HOFzoL7_yToOVEoTN_9W6vK3CaIwoftNsYKWObr4XY5nwnRKkNaRjpcPYThtxpZSGzW2oZe4pKlQ2B6KOfg1hI4AA0mdt69vkua-GFNI_ZfjVqA6Jg/s1600/20140719_113410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuv7Q3HeTLq6FGx2zSTeOOCQEr1HOFzoL7_yToOVEoTN_9W6vK3CaIwoftNsYKWObr4XY5nwnRKkNaRjpcPYThtxpZSGzW2oZe4pKlQ2B6KOfg1hI4AA0mdt69vkua-GFNI_ZfjVqA6Jg/s640/20140719_113410.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-25063049420603887982014-07-16T22:01:00.000-04:002014-07-16T22:01:12.841-04:00The NEWEST News<span style="font-size: large;">I could keep updating on past birthdays and various other events, but I simply can't wait to share the NEWEST news any longer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Lord is growing our family!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He has brought us another daughter! She will be 3 in August and currently lives in Henan, China. She is beautiful, adorable, precious...beyond description and we can't wait to have her home with us!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To read her full story, email me at: kevmandy @ msn.com</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, due to some current restrictions we will be unable to share her picture on the internet for some time. Don't worry! As soon as I can, I will! And, if you see me in person, I'd be overjoyed to show you her sweet face</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Until then, her name is Sophie Joy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rejoicing in Him,</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/150/A6A708F8C798875EE8C7808EE57D5165.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px !important;" /></a>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-20377720319446275612014-07-15T10:51:00.000-04:002014-07-15T11:05:01.013-04:00More Catching Up<span style="font-size: large;">So, Aaron has gotten married and moved to Guam!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the days following Aaron's wedding, another announcement changed the way we look at the days ahead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">After many months of decreasing mobility, doctors gave my sweet Daddy the diagnosis of ALS (more commonly known as Lou Gherig's disease).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have all been adjusting to this diagnosis and learning a changing normal. The Lord never leaves us without blessing and this has been the case with this as well!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have been blessed to get to spend at least a week every other month with my parents in Orlando! This is more time...and often adult only time (kids at home)...than we have had in ages!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Lord has blessed my parents through the VA so that all of my dad's changing needs are being met...including a powerchair and beautiful wheelchair accessible van.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And, just a few weeks ago Lily and Joshua and Grandpa got to take powerchair walks (rides!) when we visited the in Florida! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, I took very few pictures when we were there a week ago, but here they are...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Him,</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/150/A6A708F8C798875EE8C7808EE57D5165.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px !important;" /></a>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334492349333665660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2392307850828445939.post-20596705576402892492014-07-10T13:58:00.001-04:002014-07-10T15:36:17.499-04:00Flip Flop Feet<div dir="ltr">
Today we began what is becoming an annual summertime tradition. Getting a new leg for Lily.</div>
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This year her sisters requested that she get a Flip Flop foot. That means there would have to be a space between the big toe and the toe next to it. Obvious. But not something most of us think much about!</div>
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Mr Don, our prosthetist, was successful in finding the smallest flip flop made!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgWfAOMa0WYAQwTMPqBO3GruViBIj7B8_bmdMSnXPsKoZoW1hey3v2Q0JVLjygtLD6F4tItK5nAIa8OZaj-giMcomrHrlp6bwwq_K3PlXr7o1v2Sz-0L4AS5bTr-eGT_JyHLMuzfRxao/s640/20140710_103651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgWfAOMa0WYAQwTMPqBO3GruViBIj7B8_bmdMSnXPsKoZoW1hey3v2Q0JVLjygtLD6F4tItK5nAIa8OZaj-giMcomrHrlp6bwwq_K3PlXr7o1v2Sz-0L4AS5bTr-eGT_JyHLMuzfRxao/s640/20140710_103651.jpg" /></a>And here's a picture from the other day just for fun!! What sweeties!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUa6JytDLOtJkf6rUAdFwZaKy0nMTqErr6TQhYKrGG8YlYkM-Y1Pu2mEzdIkpxH9_LTve_Y0nfHeyjPUz3rvZZu9a19kafEdkIBQANBHBtaL1YM0z62XbXr7Z1uFjQXaVPIN00teGeE0g/s1600/20140708_140637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUa6JytDLOtJkf6rUAdFwZaKy0nMTqErr6TQhYKrGG8YlYkM-Y1Pu2mEzdIkpxH9_LTve_Y0nfHeyjPUz3rvZZu9a19kafEdkIBQANBHBtaL1YM0z62XbXr7Z1uFjQXaVPIN00teGeE0g/s640/20140708_140637.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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