Hand Over The Keys.

While riding with my 15 year old driver recently, I had quite a revelation.  I spent most of our 20 minutes drive with my hands and jaw tightly clenched.  He's great at almost everything he does.  EXCEPT FOR DRIVING.  My one way conversation with him went something like this:
"Slow down"
"Two hands on the wheel"
"Stop turning the radio"
"Slow down"
"You're getting ready to run off the road"
Bad curve ahead"
"Listen to me.  You don't know what you're doing."
"Pull over."
"Get out."
"I am driving now."

Here's the revelation:  I wonder if God feels the same way I felt when we try to drive too fast and make a wreck of our lives.  We don't slow down.  We don't listen to him.  We run off the road.  We don't see the curve ahead. We crash."

Maybe we need to sit still, slow down and listen to The One who knows the road we are traveling.  Maybe we need to stop, pull over and hand Him the keys.  He's a much better driver.

Shannon

Shannon is 13 years old. She's in the 7th grade, is smart and does well in school. She likes to take walks and jump rope, and she lives in an orphanage in Guangxi province, China. Her two best friends were adopted to the United States a year ago, and she keeps in touch with them over the internet. She regularly pleads with them to find a family for her. She's asked her orphanage to prepare her paperwork for adoption, but they hadn't done it before because they didn't think anyone would adopt an older girl with mild cerebral palsy (a slight limp and some weakness in one hand). 

Any interested family really needs to already have their paperwork ready.  You can read more about her and find more info at http://www.untiltheyallcomehome.blogspot.com/.

A Miracle for Isabella

Little Isabella's family needs a Christmas Miracle.  This family lives just a few houses down from us.  They are one of four families on our small street who are in the process of adopting from China.  One day I'll share all those God-sized stories, but today it is about Isabella.

She has a very complicated heart condition.  Different from Pearl's, and more dangerous.  She needs to come home quick. Last week this family received expedition from the US government side of their adoption.  Things turned around MUCH.MORE.QUICKLY than they ever anticipated.  This is a good thing.  However, this family thought they had much more time to raise and save the funds they need.

Here's where you come in.  I know this time of year we can all be overwhelmed by the needs around us.  There are angel trees, Salvation Army collections, Samaritan's purse and a million more wonderful causes to participate in.  This year, as you think of how blessed you are, would you consider sharing your blessings with Isabella and her family?

You can visit their blog for more information - or contact ME and I'll help you get in touch with them.  They have lots of fundraisers going on (my personal favorite - wild olive tees) OR you can just simply write a check as a way of helping take care of "the least of these among us".

AND THE WINNER IS.........

Click here to watch the recorded drawing !  Congrats to the winners.  We hope the iPad is a blessing to you.  Thanks again to all of you who brought tiny bits of hope to Pearl!



Thank You

Here on the eve of the drawing for the ipads, I have some people to thank. 

First of all, to the dear families who donated the ipads:  Wow.  We are still just blown away by your generous offer.  Thank you so much.  We know you have given out of your love and concern for this precious little girl named Pearl. 

To our family member who donated the tickets - Wow - we love you and we know you love Pearl.

Next, to all of you who took bundles of tickets to sell.  Wow..  We are blown away by your willingness to take your time to sell tickets for us.  Although we really know it wasn't for US, it was for Him and this little girl that He loves so much.

Lastly, to those of you who purchased tickets.  Wow.  Whether you spent $2 or $100 we are so grateful.  Every single ticket we sold represents a bit of hope.  Hope for Pearl.

2500 little bits of hope.  Yes, we sold 2500 tickets.  In the beginning we questioned whether or not this was way too big of an amount for us to sell.  Then we were reminded that God is no little God.  He has all of this under control.  He knows where every penny we need will come from.  He is good.  And HE Loves our Pearl even more than we do.  We trust Him.

Christmas is Coming!

We spent our day getting things in gear for Christmas.  I used to LOVE Christmas decorations, but now I find myself dreading the whole process.  Everything I put out  will inevitably occupy more of my precious time being put away.  I know - I'm a scrooge sometimes.

I'd just rather spend my time sipping cocoa and snuggling on the couch with my kiddos. 
I did manage to get the tree up - the kids did the decorating.  We also hung the stockings and the greenery on the porch lights. 

Lainie did her job of putting out the manger.  Can you tell she's been to kindergarten this year?  All of the onlookers at the manger are standing in perfect little rows.

We also had two Christmas Card photo sessions.  One for each side of the family.  The picture taking itself isn't all that fun, but the memories it captures are priceless for years to come.

Hope your Christmas is getting geared up - I'm trying not to rush through it so that we can be closer to having Pearl home.  Daily I have to tell myself to live in the present rather than letting my thoughts be consumed with the when and how and other details of our pending adoption.  Some days are easier than others.

At last we are.....

Those of you in the adoption world know what a HUGE step this is...  The rest of you .....  well, just know it is a huge amount of work off my plate.

iPad Raffle Update:  We have about 50 tickets left.  I'll leave the payment link on the right until all the tickets are gone, or until November 29th.