Madonna and Adoption

Is it just me or does anyone else in the adoption world think this is wrong? What about the Hague? If the requirements for the Hague were followed she would not be allowed to adopt at this point.
Do they have a clue about this womans lifestyle? And even if she had to go by at least half of the rules and regulations the rest of us have had to follow she still has flunked the other half.
If anyone at this point allows her to adopt this little girl adoption advocates better get ready for a fight. What this tells me is that if you have money and prestige you don't have to follow the rules. But if you are just your average working class family who has a heart for adoption and follows the rules you may be denied because of one DUI in your pass or 2 divorces, or your age or you were depressed sometime in your life or you take a medication that isn't approved or your a little overweight.
Even though I am not a fan of Madonna, I am not saying that it is wrong for her to want to adopt again. What I am saying is that if I had her lifestyle, but without the fame and money, I would not be given the time of day. The rules should apply to everyone.
Yeah, I see a lot wrong with this picture.

Wild Olive Tees

I just discovered a great site that sell awesome Christian T-shirts Wild Olive Tees. Scroll down on the right side of my blog, click on and check them out!

Loving Technology!

I took a picture of Dustin the other day from our web cam while we were skyping. I love Skype! You can talk for free through your computer and see each other on the web cam. It sure makes missing him a lot easier. I will say this for Dustin he is always smiling!
I think about the days when loved ones where fighting a war and the only communication was through letters. I know I am very grateful for technology! Please continue to pray for Dustin and all of our troops. Things may have calmed down but they are still fighting a war.

Everything rides on Hope & Faith

Hmmm...Kennedy had not been home very long when this picture was taken. I wonder what that face means? Maybe she just was not fond of the cusine yet.

Most of us have songs that speak to our spirit, that stirs something so deep inside of us we feel this is "our" song. It speaks for us when we can not find the words to explain what we are feeling.
I have a lot of songs like that but when I heard this one last year by Addison Roads it touched a cord in my soul.
It is "my" song if you will and if you have speakers I have made it my blog song.


Hope Now
If everything comes down to love
Then just what am I afraid of
When I call out Your name
Something inside awakes in my soul
How quickly I forget I'm Yours

I'm not my own
I've been carried by You
All my life

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
This love sets me free

When my life is like a storm
Rising waters all I want is the shore
You say I'll be ok and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
This love sets me free

You define my hearts desire
I will sing Your praises higher
Cause Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free

I'm not my own
I've been carried by You
All my life


Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down

This love sets me free
This love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free

Reflections

I have been doing a lot of reflecting, praying and thinking since my last post. Life is short. The majority of us will waste a lot of our life going after things we think are important but in the end we look back and this thought crosses our mind "what was I thinking?"
I have looked back at things I have said, done, bought, thought and there is a lot of it I would give anything to take back, redo, rethink, not say. But I can't. This is where the God I love, the God I live for, the God I serve comes in. When I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior He forgave and forgives my sins. He gives me my hope, my peace.
Things are not important. Life is. What we do with our life while we are on this earth for a short time is our legacy. My kids will know that I loved God with everything I had, that they were the most precious gifts I was ever given, that I wanted to make a difference, that their dad was the love of my life, that I loved and was loved, that my life was blessed beyond belief. This is what I want them to remember. Life is what you make it. Make it good!

Adopt or Not

Ok, some of you may know this but I feel God has been pulling at my heart about adopting again. Now with that being said notice the words "I" and "feel." Because of these two words I need a lot of quiet time with God and ask for discernment. I need to know without a doubt it is God calling and not the mom in me. Sometimes it is hard to discern the two. Also notice the word me and not us. Mike is praying. He doesn't feel a no or a yes.
In reality, I can say "are you kidding me?" We are spread thin not only with our schedules, well Mike is, I am pretty flexible, but the money is a huge issue. For us to adopt again we would need a miracle. I am talking a parting the Red Sea miracle!
So for my blogger friends and family I came up with a prayer request/praise list. I am going to make a list of the obstacles that I believe stand in our way. I am asking not only for you to pray but to share my blog with your family, friends & co-workers and ask them to pray along with us. When you are seeking Gods will prayer is the first and most important thing you do. I love the fact that we can join together and pray even through blogs!
So list of obstacles:
1. Wisdom (not really an obstacle)
2. Peace in our hearts.
3. Understanding from friends and family. Though Gods word rules over their opinion it is just nice to have them in your corner.
4. Finances. $35,000 to be exact. This would include total estimate of adoption cost and bills that would need to be paid off so I could stay home and not work, except on Hug Away!
5 Staying healthy.
6. My age though only a number to me is a big deal to some countries so God would need to open doors in that area also.
*And the most important of all that God would be glorified no matter what!

It goes without saying that we serve a big God and if it is His desire for us to adopt again, He will make it happen. And if another adoption is not His plan for us that is ok too. We choose to be obedient in His call for our lives.
I chose the picture of Cody and Kennedy as a reminder how God can soften a heart.
Cody was totally against the adoption of Kennedy. In his words he thought we were "crazy" for adopting again. In his defense he was looking our for us. He really thought we were taking to much on. He didn't even come to the airport when I came home with Kennedy. A couple of days later he came to meet her and that was all she wrote. He was in love. That is how our God works.
Last night I was coming back from a Leadership class I am taking at church. As I drove home I thought "If we had not been faithful and adopted as God called us to do, I would be going home to a very quiet house." Mike and I were not meant to have a house with no kids. And even though I can't go to a spa, get my hair colored professionally, have new furniture, a new car and we know without a doubt God has blessed us beyond anything we could have planned for ourselves. He has and continues to amaze us. Our family is extremely close. Our kids have never been ashamed at any age to tell us that they love us or hug us in front of their friends. When they call never is a conversation ended without saying " I love you." The love between the six of our children is amazing to watch. It is a bond that can not be broken. Now I have to say my girls feel like they have four dads at times and Kennedy feels like she has three mommas, but in the big scheme of things that's not so bad.
What I know for sure is this, Gods plan for our lives is so much better than anything we could have ever planned for ourselves. I had planned on being a lawyer/photographer. I may have not made the lawyer status but the pictures I take of this crew is one of my greatest joys.
Because of adoption I found one of my purposes was to mentor, educate and financially help others about adoption. It also has lead me to help orphans who will not be adopted. God put these desires in my heart and I give Him all the glory.
Chuckle moment. When I tallied up the amount of money we would need to "clear" the way for another adoption, the human in me went "No Way!" But then I thought of all the bail outs going on in this country and it really didn't seem so overwhelming!
God is very good about putting things in perspective.

I hope you will join us in prayer. I know without a doubt God will answer our prayers. It will be amazing to see what His plan will reveal.
By the way I have my email posted on here somewhere so you can email me anytime. Someone asked me about that the other day because she is not comfortable postin a public comment and that is ok. If you can't find it here it is:
elainesgotseoul2@cox.net

Judgement

Ok, this is for the person or maybe persons who read my last post and took offense to it.
This was not meant to offend anyone. The point was that I learned something from it.
Was what I said wrong? Without a doubt. And why in front of Kennedy? Well I believe I slipped in front of Kennedy because in her innocent statements, she made me realize what I said was not only wrong but what kind of example was I setting. If she had not been sitting there I may not have given it a second thought. We will never know. But the fact remains, I was convicted and learned a lesson.
I am a Christian, which means I am a human, which means I stumble sometimes, ok a lot. But what I learn from those stumbles in my walk is very important. I could blow it off or learn. I choose to learn and share. Read Philippians 3:13-14.
As my blog states, this is about my walk with God. The ups ,the downs and anything else that comes of it. So may I kindly suggest anyone who reads this and gets all fire and brimstone on me, pull the stick/log/plank out of your own eye. Luke 6:42.(almost had you didn't I?) We all are sinners we all stumble in our walk and we all fall short! I am very real about my walk and share so others can relate and know they are not alone.