Today

Sucked! That is all there is to it. Dustin left this morning. Saying goodbye to him is extremely hard. The happiness I felt when he surprised me a few weeks ago is the extreme opposite of what I feel now. Mike flew out to Palm Springs with him to drive him back to 29 Palms. It took a little longer than he thought and Mike missed his flight home. He has been gone since last Wednesday, came home yesterday and is gone again and can't get home. If that isn't bad enough, news came out today that adoptions in Vietnam are shutting down. Because of a few greedy, shady idiots who can't play by the rules, family's lives were torn apart and hundreds of children may never come home to their forever family. That absolutely breaks my heart.
On a positive note our beautiful daughter, Jordan was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society last night. We are so proud of her. She is sweet, kind and modest and smart! She receives another award from Duke University's Talent Program May 15 at Tulsa University. One more cool thing happened yesterday. My husband was at the airport, I think in Dallas or OKC and he saw this women with this quote " A handsome lively little asian boy'' I knew who it was before he said another word. My friend was due home yesterday from Vietnam and that sweet little boy is from the same orphanage as Kennedy.
Please say a prayer for all the families and children who were affected by the shut down.

How Do You

Make the world understand that each one of us can make a difference? Is there terrorism? famine? Does it cost to much to drive, to eat? Is there injustice and cruelty in the world? Is there corruption in our government? In any government? The answer is yes. I could go on and on but you know what? It wouldn't matter because it still doesn't change the fact that tonight while you and I sit in our homes, most of us safe, fed and happy...there are children being sold for sex, children dying of hunger every single minute, children raising children, sleeping on the ground out in the open scared beyond belief with no one to comfort them, no one to hold them and tell them it is going to be all right. These children do not have the basic necessities that every human being should have. They wake up every day, with no hope. None. They don't try to survive day by day, for them it is minute to minute. Don't think you can do any thing about it?
What if I told you that if 7 percent of Christians would adopt 1 child there would be no orphans?
What if I told you that if every person who reads this blog made a decision to help the orphans and then actually acted on it that thousands would be saved. Remember it takes a flame to start a fire.
I wish with every breath I take I could help every single child on this earth who has been orphaned. But I can't. It takes all of us. So if you will watch the video in the post below, then pray and ask God what He would want you to do then you will make a difference. It may be starting your own ministry for adoption and orphans, it may be raising money or making a donation. Whatever it is remember you can make a difference.
If you feel lead go to http://www.hugaway.org/ and make a tax deductible donation. We will either help a child come home to their forever family or give a child who can not be adopted hope. We can't do it without you. Yes things are crazy in the world right now and always will be to some degree but God still commands us to care of the orphans.
I have people from all over the world reading this blog. I believe together we WILL make a difference. If you need to email me you can at hugawayfoundation@cox.net
Don't forget to visit our website and watch the video in the post below.

When Love Takes You In - Steven Curtis Chapman

What a Day!

Today I spoke to the Women's Ministry about
Hug Away. Each year they have this wonderful luncheon, guest speaker , this year it was Sherrie Kulwicki she was wonderful, and "adopt" a ministry to support. This year it was Hug Away.
There were just over a 100 women who attended and they raised $564! I was thrilled. Not only did they raise money for us, on each table there were flower bulbs (gladiolas) with a little tag on it that said " Every time you see the beautiful flower that grows from this bulb, please remember to pray for the Hug Away Foundation and all the children and families touched by their ministry." It also had our bible verse and a picture of our magnet. Isn't that awesome? I was so touched.

Remember if you want to get the word out about our Foundation and adoption we will come speak at your church, group or organization!
Thank you God for your faithfulness and Thank you to the wonderful Women's Ministry at Arrow Heights Baptist Church!

Cody

Cody is my middle son. He is 22 years old. He looks just like his dad. He is athletic and a cutie. He has a great sense of humor and loves to have a good time. Like his brothers he adores his little sisters and would help anyone, anytime. He has a big heart.

When we told Cody we were going to adopt again, he was not thrilled at all. He thought we had lost our minds. I have to admit his reaction shocked me. But his mind was made up and he was not about to waiver. When we came home from Vietnam he wasn't at the airport (had to work.) I guess it was a couple of days later, he came by the house. He gave me a hug, looked at Kennedy and that was all she wrote. It was love at first sight. He will babysit Kennedy, take her to lunch and let her run errands with him. He is so happy she is part of our lives. I had him do a video on his opinion of adoption and it was very moving. He is all for it!

Cody lives on his own and has for a while. I don't get to see him as much as I would like to. He is going to start the process in the Fall to become a fireman. He is an awesome son, brother, uncle and friend. Someday he is going to make someone a wonderful husband and father. I love you Code Man!

Adoption and being an "older mom"

Art work of her sister and niece playing,
by Jordan Bayer

When you have adopted and it is obvious your children are a different nationality, you can expect certain things.

1. To be stared at when you walk into a restaurant.


2. To be asked the rudest questions at Walmart!


3. To be asked if your 3 month old daughter will speak Korean or English when she grows up!


4. Are they "real" sisters


5. Whose there daddy? My answer is always "No clue they all have different daddies!"


6. Are they Japanese? sigh.


7. Are they Chinese? sigh.


8. Are they Hispanic? huh?


9. Orientals are so cute! Hello! Oriental is a rug. They are asians or Korean/American..Vietnamese/American!


10. Where's their mom? Excuse me, you are talking to her!


11. Rare but has happened. Why didn't you adopt your own kind? I did you kumquat, the human kind!

Of course there are those precious people who truly are interested and they shyly approach you and ask what led you to adoption? God Bless you wonderful people! I will talk to you any time, anywhere any place. Again let me remind all of you "50 is the new I love being a mom, even an older mom. It keeps me young and happy!

Mothers intuition

A little add on to my post about Dustin. A few nights ago I had a dream that I was sitting with friends talking and eating when I looked up and Dustin was smiling at me. I screamed, jumped up and hugged him. The hug felt so real that I text him about it. Now if his flight had been on time, the plan was for his brother to bring him to the church where I was sitting with friends talking and eating. The only thing different from my dream was the fact I opened the door at home and saw that beautiful smile!

Surprise!

OK I went to church last night...to eat, it is sooo good. The rest of my family had things to do at church and I didn't so I thought I would just go home. My friend Dayna sat and talked to me which normally I wouldn't think nothing of it because we talk a lot, but something was different. She wanted to make sure I was sticking around, I thought something was wrong. Anyway after a while I went home. Dayna you did a great job! So about 8:30 my family still wasn't home and I called my husband and he said "hey babe will you get the door for me?" I am thinking, "hello I am on the phone with you, hang it up and get the door yourself." But I didn't (new thing I am practicing, not being so gripy :) !) So I opened the door and who is standing in front of me? My Dustin that's who! It was surreal. I just looked at him and then I realized it really was him! I grabbed him and screamed! It was wonderful. Dustin and my husband had this planned for a couple of weeks. Friday is our anniversary and I can't think of a better present. The next one to surprise was Jordan. She was out with some church friends flocking (putting pink flamingos on peoples lawns) for a fundraiser. I locked the front door so she couldn't just walk in and when Dustin answered the door you could hear this little gasp, shock and like me had the look "is this for real?" and then she just ran in his arms. They are pretty tight. Cameron cried and Kennedy was just happy. Anyway that is what I was told. Apparently my husband had Dayna watch them at the church while he picked up Dustin. It is so good to know that right now he is sleeping in his bed and he is safe. I know this feeling will not last for long, so I am going to relish every second of it. Thank you God for making this possible! I will post pictures soon!