I love my family! They rock all the way around...

3:30 am is going to come very fast.  I need to get the little ones to bed.  Shower.  Try to slow down my thoughts. Pray. 
Off to Guatemala in the a.m..

Some days he does not stop

Mommy,

Can I do this
Why
Can you get me
What
You hurt my feelings
Can I
Why not
But
How about
just one
I promise
Please
Pretty please
Daddy said Yes
I am not talking back
But why

5 days to go

and I am almost packed.

enough said

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great e...nthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." -- President Theodore Rooseve

The last time I checked

humans are not perfect.  Not even close to perfection.  I'm really struggling with people who think they are perfect or demand perfection.   It will never happen on earth folks.

Bible Verses about Perfection

Ecclesiastes 7:20         

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

James 1:4          

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Matthew 5:48         

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Philippians 3:12-15         

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

James 3:2     

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

1 John 2:5         

But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

1 John 5:18         

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

1 John 4:12      

No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

2 Corinthians 13:9          

For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.

Psalm 119:96          

I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

my to do

list is growing longer and longer.

one day

The Lord will tell me why?  Until that day I will continue to pray for you.

My belly hurts

The cute conversation tonight:

carson:  Mom are you ok? 
me: yes, my belly is bothering me a little.
carson:  can I lay with you?
me: sure
a few minutes later
Carson: Mommy my belly hurts?
me:  Oh Omie, do you have to use the bathroom?
carson:  no mommy, I think your belly pain jumped into my belly because we are resting together.

10 days until Guatemala

Flash back from last year

The group pushing some of the children from HP back from lunch.

Oh my girls!  The girls in this photo are from a private orphanage. 

Jaime hanging with one of the boys at H.P

Mr. Robinson working on one of the wheelchairs.

The scene from our hotel room.

Bringing wheelchairs down from the warehouse

Packing 60 wheelchairs for transportation

Alyssa hanging with the boys in the village.

Carrying food to our families

looking for clothing and shoes that will fit

the best house in the village

The adoption questions are starting

Tonight as we were praying Carson said, "Mommy do I have real family in Guatemala?"  My eyes filled with tears before I could even answer him.  As I started to reply Carson quickly stated, " tell me about it another day." 

I feel like I am

running up a hill filled with quick sand. 

twenty more

days and we will be in Guatemala.  God willing!

Happy 4th of July

Random photos

leaning on the everlasting arm

I can hear my Grandmother playing the song below on the piano at church (Oh do I miss her).  God placed this song on my heart this evening. Why do I dread or fear when we can lean on the everlasting arm.  Amen!  Now I have to apply it to my life. 


What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

back of the leg

ouch!  I got my first leg bite tonight by Cinderella.  Those little baby teeth hurt.

my boy

Today as I was driving Carson to his first day of summer camp I looked in my rear-view mirror and could not believe my eyes.  My sweet baby boy looked so big sitting in his booster sit.  I had to do a triple take.  I could not believe what I saw... now mind you I see Carson everyday but today was different.  I saw a boy sitting in the back seat of my car.  Everything about him is changing.  His vocabulary is large for a 5 year old, he is getting taller and his face is really starting to mature.  During our conversation I said to him "Carson, Mommy does not want you to grow up too fast."  He quickly replied, "But Mommy I have to grow up so I can play football." 

watch and just listen

A few things I have learned from God this week about my little ones:

Cindrella loves opening and closing doors... the Lord does the same for us.

Carson sings at the top of his lungs to the Lord...the Lord loves that.

Cindrella clings to my leg when she is not sure of something...oh how the Lord wants us to cling to him.

Carson takes time to look at every insect...the Lord created all of the little 'buggers' (as Carson calls them)

Cindrella falls when she is walking but gets right back up...the Lord wants us to do the same.

Carson talks to the Lord about everything when he prays...the Lord wants us to  have a normal conversation with him.

out of the mouth

of Carson "Mommy, life is all about family do not be sad."

What a friend we have

Tuesday after our doctors appointment, a friend of mine did not ask me any question about the results as she simply said "Gret, remember the song, What a friend we have in Jesus?"  I replied, "Yes" with tears filling my eyes.  She said in a soft voice "hold on to that song right now as it was written for times like these." 
Stanza 1:
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer.
Stanza 2:
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Stanza 3:
Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms He'll take and shield thee;
Thou wilt find a solace there.

The test results revealed that our unborn baby at 12weeks and 6 days had Turner Syndrome.  Turner Syndrome is a 'fluke' genetic disorder as research has shown. My emotions are still raw however I am clinging to every word above right now.  to be continued...

post-op D and E appointment tomorrow

Please pray for me as the test results are in-

Carson yells from my bedroom

"Mommy Cinderella is walking around with your boobie holder (my bra)." Here comes Cinderella around the corner with my "boobie holder" smiling and laughing as Carson is trying to take it from her. 

16 hour fundraiser yesterday

and $6,510.00 later... God is good. 

Fundraiser

As most of you know 5 years ago I adopted my son Carson from Guatemala. Guatemala is considered a third world country meaning its poor extremely poor. There is no government assistance program( i.e. welfare, housing allowance, etc) most children and adults go to bed hungry, sleep on dirt floors, and drink dirty water which is contaminated with other fluids.
I will be traveling to Guatemala in July with 16 other team members. We need to raise funds for our projects: building three homes, wheelchair distribution, supplying twelve families with a month worth of staple foods, clothing at least 100 Guatemalans. In order for these projects to be a success we are having an awesome fundraiser this Saturday.

The fundraiser is a bike ride, walk, run for relief along with a huge yard sale, chowder cook off and more.

The registration begins at 7 am; ride begins at 8am am; walk/run begins at 9am.
4 bike routes: 2 miles, 5 miles, 16 miles, 35 miles
2 walk/run routes: 2 miles and 5 miles

I am sure you are asking yourself where is this going to take place? Well, it will be held at Calvary Baptist Church in Ocean View right on Route 9 you can not miss it...
If you can not make the event and you would like to make a donation please feel free to send your donation to:
Calvary Baptist Church
rt 9
Ocean View, NJ 08230

Wordless Wednesday

 

A few birthday photos

Forever family day

Today we celebrate our 5 year forever family day. I can not believe we have been together for 5 years as a family. Carson, as I have written before you saved my life. Words and feelings can not express how much I love you sweet baby boy! This year there have been a lot of changes for you, however, you took most of them in stride. You are an amazing son. You have a great little personality with a hot little temper at times. Carson, I can not wait to see what the Lord has in store for you.
Five years ago I can vividly see your foster mother walking up to me with you nestled in her arms. You were such a little fellow with big dark eyes. As I remember this day I can replay our forever family day as it was a few hours ago. My life and heart will never be the same since we became a family. Carson, thank you for being you. I love you my sweet baby boy!

Jame 1:18

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry-

Just what I needed to read today!

1st Birthday

Today we celebrated Greta Rebecca's first birthday.  My dream girl is such a blessing.

last year and five years ago

on June 1, 2012 and June 1, 2007 I could not sleep.  Stay tuned and you will find out why...