Katie and I were tackling a painting job the other day, when Allie comes in and puts her hands on her hips, takes a moment to look around and says...


"I like what you are doing to the place. Your painting is very good and in the lines."


I thanked her and told her how nice it was of her to take the time to encourage us. That it made us feel really good about the job we were doing as we were working so hard and that it was nice of her to notice.

She left the room and I heard her say to her self...

"Wow. I feel really good about myself. "

Hilarious, this girl.
Thanks for the heart-smile Allie-O!

*** So I wanted to share a post I wrote about a month back on Johnathan's private blog. With everything that is going on with friends adoptions,( agency closing, a friend getting passed over for LOA's while others with same LID received theirs, another family fearing they might not get approval for their two boys they are looking to adopt, etc..) I thought it might be encouraging to share with you a time when God reminded us that he is in charge, and HE will see through HIS plan for us, and how his LOVE is so evident in not only the BIG blessings, but even the little ones we might be too busy to notice and realize are from him. He cares so much about us, right down to the little details, and I think this post is evidence of how he knows everything about us, what we will need and when, and how he takes such great care in those little touches that build our faith and show us the depth of his love for us.... I pray it encourages you***

June 18th....
So I can't tell you how many times I think about Johnathan during the day. Most of the time I will take a moment to pray for angels to cover him in their protection, or for the nannies to make sure he is held and touched and loved. Or that he is able to let them know if he is cold, or hot, or sad, or needs a tissue to wipe his little nose, or someone to rub his back because it itches and I pray that someone is there to answer him and see to his needs. Sometimes I am just thinking about what he might be doing at that very moment. eating, or sleeping, or hopefully playing with friends. Most of the time I smile and tear up with Happy tears thinking about the miracle that he is. But sometimes, they are sad little tears, because I just miss him. So much. I don't need to explain to my friends here who are adoptive moms how you can miss someone you have never met, they know. They feel it too in their hearts. It is a deep ache, and sometimes, it can just sneak up on you.

Today I had a few of those moments. I teared up a few times today, just driving down the road, looking back at his spot in the car and seeing he is not there. Or folding laundry and realizing I have none for him. Or when I made lunch for the kiddos and made seven plates and realized, for now, I only need six. Just one of those days.

Thankfully, God did not wire me to feel sorry for myself for very long. It is a blessing and a curse really. I will have my sad moment looking back at his car seat and I will tear up and then I will realize, it won't be long before I am looking in the mirror and he is looking back at me. It won't be long until he has his own little pile of laundry I am folding. And I AM making lunch for 7 little kiddos, gathered around our big honkin' table sharing time together.

Well tonight I decided to sit down and take some time to go through all of the e-mail exchanges between friends/ the agency leading up to our acceptance of his referral. What a cool story that was unfolding, and we really didn't even know it.

As I was looking through some other e-mails, I found a few that contained updated pictures we had received of Johnathan . I downloaded all of those pics, and somehow, I managed to forget one. It has always been there, I just didn't find it, until now. It was sent with the other updated pictures I posted a few posts back, so same outfit, same day, same scene. Different pic. Anyone who knows me, knows that is unlike me to forget that I would have a picture of our little man.. and not bring it here to share with you all.

Yet there it sat, in my inbox, waiting to be found. God knew that one day, today, I would need that picture. A little reminder that he is faithful, and in control and that his timing is always perfect. And this timing was perfect.

So I may not have him home riding in the row behind me smiling at me in the mirror, or out getting muddy in the back yard and creating laundry for me, and sitting at our table with us enjoying a family dinner.. but today I do have my little forgotten picture. And I'll tell you what, I am SO VERY GRATEFUL!

Thank You GOD!



I just love this little man!

:)
Amie

We came home from some time away to a ton of e-mails in my in-box, cards in my mail pile, messages in my voice-mail, gifts on our kitchen table, and thinking of you comments on the blog. Thank you all of you, (you know who you are, too many to name,but I promise to get around to thanking you all personally).. for all your words of encouragement and your prayers about our agency closing. I love how the adoption community is SO supportive and encouraging of one another. I am blessed to be a part of such a wonderful community. I am blessed that God used each one of you to send a kind thought or word or prayer our way. See, just a taste of how God will be Glorified!


While this may come as a surprise to us, God is not surprised in the least bit by this. He knew what was coming. And he knows what will come next. And he has a plan that is divinely inspired, and just perfect for us. That is so comforting, and so much more than we ever deserve. We are children of a Heavenly Father who is FAITHFUL and LOVES more than we can ever comprehend. And simply put, we are so THANKFUL!

So we praise, we pray, and we follow God wherever he takes us, while in awe of his unconditional LOVE for us and the care he takes in all the details of our journey with him.

PRAISE GOD! And thanks for friends who bless us along the way!

Much Love!

*** Something I should have included in my Public Service Announcement***

Also, do not e-mail to tell us that you are closing your doors down within 2 weeks and that all of our files will be transferred to another agency, TBD. (Not your TBD Becky. ;) ) Especially when a dear friend of mine, who is a client of yours as well, is a few weeks away from expecting her TA and has already had to wait much longer than she should have to bring her sweet little girl home.

Heh. I don't make this stuff up people. Not this time at least. ;)

If y'all don't mind Praying for a speedy TA for my friend Margie, so that this craziness won't slow her down, I sure would appreciate it. Pray for peace for her too that she will know that God will take care of it all. Her mama lion heart is about to explode with this news. I think there are 10 families in total affected by the closing, so feel free to throw them in there too.

I am thankful for a God that is GOOD all the time! Because of that, I can laugh at the irony of it all. I am going to sit back, see where God takes us next and enjoy the ride. Because I know, through it all, HE will be Glorified!!

Hugs to you Margie!!

If you work for an adoption agency, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT send your families any type of e-mail communication unless it contains the good news they are waiting for, especially if they are waiting for news involving any combination of two or three letters.

Don't even try to be nice, and send a little hello. Or, "thinkin' of you". Or a funny forward. Or a chain letter. Or a new recipe you thought they might like to try. And most definitely not an e-mail announcing that your hours have been cut back and you will now be that much harder to get a hold of. Nada. Nunca.Nothing.

Unless ...you want your client to poop their pants when they see they have a message from you in their in-box. Let me clarify... I don't mind poopin' for good news, but I might be a little resentful if I find out I have pooped for your blueberry scone recipe or your new poopy schedule. Might.

I'm just sayin'.

:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHELLEY!
(Shelley on the left, her adorable little sis on the right. had to steal the pic Shell, sorry)

Shelley is one of my oldest and dearest friends. One of those people who brings the sun with her wherever she goes. If you knew her you would smile just thinking about her. And you would be blessed as I am to have her in your life. And can I just say, Is that girl ONE HOT MAMA, or what!

Love you Shell. Hope you had a good one!
HAPPY DAY dear friend!
Lots of LOVE!

Seems like yesterday I was wiping your little bummie and cleaning up your poop. What? No.. Embarassing?

Hope you have a GREAT day!

Lots of Love-
Fluffie(You know I love you if I'm puttin' that out there!)

LID 5/29 B.A.B.Y.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God is SOOOOOO Very GOOD!!!!!

:
Happy Happy Day!