You know, I was having a bad week. One of those weeks where it seems like everything goes wrong at the same time and everyone is in a bad mood. I was really feeling sorry for myself.
Then, I was reminded on the radio this morning that today is the first anniversary of the promotion to Heaven of Maria Chapman, the 5 year old youngest daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife.
Then, my week actually seemed pretty good.
Nothing like a little perspective.
Keep the Chapmans in your prayers and thoughts today. I can't imagine what they are going through.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
One year ago today
Was the horrible earthquake that struck China and killed thousands and thousands. Keep those who lost family members and homes in your thoughts and prayers today as I know this must be a hard day for them.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter
Check this out. Our church had four services - one Saturday night and three Sunday morning and this video got me every time. It sums up so perfectly the personal aspect of Easter.
We also sang the song He Lives by Lakewood Church Choir and the chorus of that song says:
He Lives, He Lives
He conquered the grave and covered our sin
He Lives, He Lives
Death could not hold the promise within
That just about sums it up.
Thank you Father God for sending your spotless son to die on the cross in my place and thank you Jesus for loving me that much!
Happy Easter everyone! He is risen!
We also sang the song He Lives by Lakewood Church Choir and the chorus of that song says:
He Lives, He Lives
He conquered the grave and covered our sin
He Lives, He Lives
Death could not hold the promise within
That just about sums it up.
Thank you Father God for sending your spotless son to die on the cross in my place and thank you Jesus for loving me that much!
Happy Easter everyone! He is risen!
Friday, March 27, 2009
2 year Gotchadanniversary
Yesterday marked 2 years since we met little M for the 1st time. We celebrated that and K's 9th birthday, which was Tuesday, with a visit to Pizza Street, a local pizza buffet. K and S loaded up on pizza and M begrudgingly ate 3 bites of pizza so she could have breadsticks, a cinnamon roll and some vanilla ice cream. I can't believe how quickly all my babies are growing up.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Potty training - Part III
Well, after months of seemingly no interest on the part of M, we are finally in the middle of potty training. She's doing pretty well. She's down to about 1-2 accidents a day. This morning we tried putting a pull-up on her and she ripped it off and told her dad she wanted to wear "big girl pants" (ie. training pants with rubber pants over them). She's doing a lot better about telling us when she has to go and she tells you yes, she has to go potty, if she does when you ask her.
The only thing is, when you ask her if she has to go potty and she doesn't, she gets exasperated with you. She says "already did" complete with hands on her hips, pouty lips and "can't you people give it a rest already" tone to her voice.
I am hopeful that by this summer, diapers may be a memory.
The only thing is, when you ask her if she has to go potty and she doesn't, she gets exasperated with you. She says "already did" complete with hands on her hips, pouty lips and "can't you people give it a rest already" tone to her voice.
I am hopeful that by this summer, diapers may be a memory.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Two years ago today...
We boarded a plane bound for China to pick up M. I remember hardly being able to sleep the night before. I was so excited and nervous at the same time. Everything was ready. Everything was packed. Would she like us? Would we recognize her? How big would she be? What would it be like?
The funny thing is, just like when I gave birth to K and S. It was like time stood still for our trip to China. I feel as though I can close my eyes now, two years later, and be right there.
I was worried about bonding too. Would she feel like ours?
And she did. It was more instant than with my first two. They handed her to me. She cried for 20 seconds or so. I snuggled her close and hummed a low monotone sound and she stopped and laid her head on my shoulder, grasped me with her little hands and snuggled into me. I knew right then that she was our daughter. She was home.
The funny thing is, just like when I gave birth to K and S. It was like time stood still for our trip to China. I feel as though I can close my eyes now, two years later, and be right there.
I was worried about bonding too. Would she feel like ours?
And she did. It was more instant than with my first two. They handed her to me. She cried for 20 seconds or so. I snuggled her close and hummed a low monotone sound and she stopped and laid her head on my shoulder, grasped me with her little hands and snuggled into me. I knew right then that she was our daughter. She was home.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
I Don't Want to Write This Post...
I have been dreading writing this post since yesterday. I think writing it down makes it seem real, like it wasn't a dream. Sunday morning, my boss/mentor from my last job in Georgia died, along with her husband and another friend, in a tragic plane crash just outside of Atlanta. Christa was extremely talented, dedicated and loyal. She always encouraged me while pushing me to do my best and try even harder. She was an avid NASCAR fan and Jeff Gordon was her favorite driver. She took frequent mission trips to Russia and gave countless hours of her time to her home church.
When we were adopting M, Christa sent me the most supportive, awesome email and followed along on our blog. She and her husband did not have any children of their own, but she was a dedicated aunt and friend.
It doesn't seem fair and we are struggling to understand, but it has reminded us once again of how fragile and uncontainable life is. You never know when you will spend your last day on earth and you realize how important the important things are and how unimportant the unimportant things are.
I will miss you Christa and I hope to see you again someday:)
Christa Kearney, a real estate attorney, was a partner with Weissman, Nowack, Curry & Wilco in Buckhead. Officials with the firm had no immediate comment on her death.
According to a bio posted on the firm’s Web site, Christa Kearney was “an avid sports fan, especially NASCAR.”
The bio also states that Mrs. Kearney had “made several trips to the former Soviet Union leading church projects that deal with land acquisition and rehabilitation.”
“They were very giving people,” said Williams of Miller and the Kearneys. “They were phenomenal, very active in our church. All had strong hearts for missions.”
When we were adopting M, Christa sent me the most supportive, awesome email and followed along on our blog. She and her husband did not have any children of their own, but she was a dedicated aunt and friend.
It doesn't seem fair and we are struggling to understand, but it has reminded us once again of how fragile and uncontainable life is. You never know when you will spend your last day on earth and you realize how important the important things are and how unimportant the unimportant things are.
I will miss you Christa and I hope to see you again someday:)
AJC - March 9, 2009
Carroll County authorities found the body of the pilot of a small airplane that crashed Sunday, killing three people on board. The body of Brian Kearney was recovered from a lake about 12:41 p.m. Monday, said Carroll County’s fire chief. Parts of the plane’s cockpit and its engine were also pulled from the lake early Monday afternoon. Earlier Monday, Carroll County authorities identified the three people killed when their NASCAR race-bound plane crashed near Carrollton.
They are Timothy Dean Miller, 40, of Woodstock; and Kearney, 51, and his wife Christa Kearney, 45, of Marietta. The bodies of Miller and Christa Kearney were recovered Sunday.
Christa Kearney, a real estate attorney, was a partner with Weissman, Nowack, Curry & Wilco in Buckhead. Officials with the firm had no immediate comment on her death.
According to a bio posted on the firm’s Web site, Christa Kearney was “an avid sports fan, especially NASCAR.”
The bio also states that Mrs. Kearney had “made several trips to the former Soviet Union leading church projects that deal with land acquisition and rehabilitation.”
“They were very giving people,” said Williams of Miller and the Kearneys. “They were phenomenal, very active in our church. All had strong hearts for missions.”
Sunday, February 22, 2009
I know...I've been a bad blogger...again
This month has just been crammed full with Doctor's appointments and school functions and holidays and all sorts of things. Sorry I haven't posted lately, but I will do better.
M started speech therapy through the cleft clinic last week. They are going to work on other things than the school speech teacher and she seems to like it, so I think it will be a good thing. S will probably start speech in March to try to correct his lisp. He also has to have surgery to close up the hole left in his ear when they removed his tube. It's been almost a year and it hasn't healed on its own.
On the positive, Piper is home and doing well. Stefanie and Chris are adopting another little one. And some friends of ours locally are getting ready to meet their sweet baby girl in China any minute now.
Hope you all are doing well and I'll try to be a better poster:)
M started speech therapy through the cleft clinic last week. They are going to work on other things than the school speech teacher and she seems to like it, so I think it will be a good thing. S will probably start speech in March to try to correct his lisp. He also has to have surgery to close up the hole left in his ear when they removed his tube. It's been almost a year and it hasn't healed on its own.
On the positive, Piper is home and doing well. Stefanie and Chris are adopting another little one. And some friends of ours locally are getting ready to meet their sweet baby girl in China any minute now.
Hope you all are doing well and I'll try to be a better poster:)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Love to a 5 year old boy
Tonight as he was giving me my kiss and hug goodnight, I told S that I was sorry I was kind of grumpy today and that I was very lucky to have him for a son.
His response:
"Yeah, 'cause you would never take me anywhere that had dragons...or bears...unless they were in a cage, and you know what they call that...the zoo. So you would never take me anywhere there are bears except the zoo."
That's right sweetie:)
His response:
"Yeah, 'cause you would never take me anywhere that had dragons...or bears...unless they were in a cage, and you know what they call that...the zoo. So you would never take me anywhere there are bears except the zoo."
That's right sweetie:)
Monday, January 26, 2009
And they're off...
As I type this, Ashley and family are on their way to China to get Piper (or PerPer) as M calls her. You call follow along here.
We can't wait to meet PerPer!!!:):)
We can't wait to meet PerPer!!!:):)
Friday, January 16, 2009
Give me a T!!! Give me an A!!!
Piper is coming home. Ashley got her TA today in record time. Looks like she's leaving next week or so. This time next month both our girls will be home!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Our Little Miracle - Part Two
So, here's the thing.
After I came to terms with the holes that had opened up in M's palate...the ones that were rather large...the ones that two different doctors told me were highly unlikely to heal...God did something miraculous...
He healed her.
That's right. All of the holes have closed up and completely healed. She has no holes in her palate anywhere. The surgeon searched thoroughly on Thursday and could not find even one tiny hole!
This is what I thought, as I hinted in this post, but I didn't want to put it out in the blogosphere until I had official confirmation.
Literally, one day I looked in M's mouth and the holes were there, and the next day I looked and they were gone.
Plus we got a bonus miracle when we were in St. Louis Thursday when we saw the infectious disease doctor. She said she found the bacteria that likely caused the infection. It is one that is commonly found in the mouth and usually harmless, but when there is mouth trauma - like surgery - it can cause bad infection. It is particularly hard to get rid of with 4-6 weeks of iv antibiotics and then 6 months of oral antibiotics. She said she told herself before she came in the exam room that she was going to have to be completely convinced there was no more infection or we would have to do the antibiotic therapy. She said M looked great but she did a CT scan, chest x-ray and blood work to make sure and she found no - as in zero - signs of infection.
Not only did God close up the holes in her palate, he completely healed her infection. No iv or oral antibiotics!
This is exactly what our prayer circle had been praying...that God would close the holes in her palate and heal her. I get goosebumps!
I am absolutely and completely amazed by our God. He has shown me his power to heal in an amazing, powerful and humbling way. This has been one of the most incredible years of my life as I have earnestly prayed for miracles and God has shown me his ability to perform miracles big and small.
He hasn't answered every prayer, but he has answered some of them in a very real and very extraordinary way. For those who haven't seen healing, I have cried, but I have also praised God for the little miracles he performed in even those situations. It makes me wonder how many miracles go on around me every day that I am unaware of. My prayer for this year is that God will open my eyes to more miracles and more opportunities for miracles and that God will help me to see even the tiny miracles are amazing displays of his love.
After I came to terms with the holes that had opened up in M's palate...the ones that were rather large...the ones that two different doctors told me were highly unlikely to heal...God did something miraculous...
He healed her.
That's right. All of the holes have closed up and completely healed. She has no holes in her palate anywhere. The surgeon searched thoroughly on Thursday and could not find even one tiny hole!
This is what I thought, as I hinted in this post, but I didn't want to put it out in the blogosphere until I had official confirmation.
Literally, one day I looked in M's mouth and the holes were there, and the next day I looked and they were gone.
Plus we got a bonus miracle when we were in St. Louis Thursday when we saw the infectious disease doctor. She said she found the bacteria that likely caused the infection. It is one that is commonly found in the mouth and usually harmless, but when there is mouth trauma - like surgery - it can cause bad infection. It is particularly hard to get rid of with 4-6 weeks of iv antibiotics and then 6 months of oral antibiotics. She said she told herself before she came in the exam room that she was going to have to be completely convinced there was no more infection or we would have to do the antibiotic therapy. She said M looked great but she did a CT scan, chest x-ray and blood work to make sure and she found no - as in zero - signs of infection.
Not only did God close up the holes in her palate, he completely healed her infection. No iv or oral antibiotics!
This is exactly what our prayer circle had been praying...that God would close the holes in her palate and heal her. I get goosebumps!
I am absolutely and completely amazed by our God. He has shown me his power to heal in an amazing, powerful and humbling way. This has been one of the most incredible years of my life as I have earnestly prayed for miracles and God has shown me his ability to perform miracles big and small.
He hasn't answered every prayer, but he has answered some of them in a very real and very extraordinary way. For those who haven't seen healing, I have cried, but I have also praised God for the little miracles he performed in even those situations. It makes me wonder how many miracles go on around me every day that I am unaware of. My prayer for this year is that God will open my eyes to more miracles and more opportunities for miracles and that God will help me to see even the tiny miracles are amazing displays of his love.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Our Little Miracle - Part One
Well, I have some miraculous news to share, but first I feel like I need to give some background info, so here goes:
A year ago, after M had finished what we thought would be her last surgery, I stumbled across this video on the internet. I don't even remember how I ended up watching it, but I was deeply moved. I found blogs for other families with the same diagnosis or for other diagnosis that were incompatible with life. What I found was a community of expectant parents praying for miracles, or at the very least for their children to be born alive so that they could spend some time with them. The outcomes varied. Some lived only minutes, or hours, or days. Some lived months. One survives still despite his parents being told he could not survive outside the womb. One was healed completely. The common denominator in these families was their thankfulness for the opportunity to bring these children into the world, even though they knew the odds were overwhelming that they would not survive. Through this time, I found CF Husband and Bring The Rain, which are two amazing and humbling sites. I've seen God work some major miracles through CF Husband and Susannah. All in all, I've come to realize that to have children who are here and healthy is a tremendous blessing.
You may remember this post where I touched on this subject when M's infection was so bad. At this point, I just accepted that this was God's plan and more importantly that God had formed M when she was in her mother's womb and he knew she would have a cleft palate and if he took care of these other families with such large needs and life threatening issues, surely he would take care of M. Things were better than before the surgery and if it took more surgeries, that was okay. I knew God would take care of us and show us the way. So, at that point, I just gave the whole thing over to God and trusted him that he would heal her in whatever way he saw fit to do so, and that was okay. I prepared myself for the visit with the infectious disease doctor and for further surgeries and I was okay with it.
But sometimes, when you let go of something and truly trust God he has other plans...really good plans...
A year ago, after M had finished what we thought would be her last surgery, I stumbled across this video on the internet. I don't even remember how I ended up watching it, but I was deeply moved. I found blogs for other families with the same diagnosis or for other diagnosis that were incompatible with life. What I found was a community of expectant parents praying for miracles, or at the very least for their children to be born alive so that they could spend some time with them. The outcomes varied. Some lived only minutes, or hours, or days. Some lived months. One survives still despite his parents being told he could not survive outside the womb. One was healed completely. The common denominator in these families was their thankfulness for the opportunity to bring these children into the world, even though they knew the odds were overwhelming that they would not survive. Through this time, I found CF Husband and Bring The Rain, which are two amazing and humbling sites. I've seen God work some major miracles through CF Husband and Susannah. All in all, I've come to realize that to have children who are here and healthy is a tremendous blessing.
You may remember this post where I touched on this subject when M's infection was so bad. At this point, I just accepted that this was God's plan and more importantly that God had formed M when she was in her mother's womb and he knew she would have a cleft palate and if he took care of these other families with such large needs and life threatening issues, surely he would take care of M. Things were better than before the surgery and if it took more surgeries, that was okay. I knew God would take care of us and show us the way. So, at that point, I just gave the whole thing over to God and trusted him that he would heal her in whatever way he saw fit to do so, and that was okay. I prepared myself for the visit with the infectious disease doctor and for further surgeries and I was okay with it.
But sometimes, when you let go of something and truly trust God he has other plans...really good plans...
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