Happy Birthday Madeline!

9 years ago today I experienced one of the greatest, most memorable events of my life.  The birth of my miracle child, Madeline Jireh.  After waiting and longing for three years, the Lord answered our prayer and gave us a healthy baby girl.  She made her entrance eleven days early at 5:58 in the morning on a Sunday and I haven't been the same since.  I'm honored to have been chosen to be her mama.  She brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart.  Happy 9th Birthday Madeline!  You are loved more than words can say.

Project Chosen

My precious friend Jeanette is featuring a different family every day this month whose lives have been blessed through the miracle of adoption.  This is a fabulous idea that hopefully will spread the word and show the need of the over 143 million orphans who are waiting around the world for a forever family.  That is a staggering amount and I pray that heart strings are tugged and people will answer an overwhelming call to open their homes to a child who desperately needs them.  

Please visit Project Chosen and see how these families lives have been changed.  We are honored to be part of this and our story will be shared on February 26th.  If you would like to share your adoption story there is still room, just leave her your email.

Let it Snow!

We had some very excited children on Friday evening when the snow started to fall.  Rex and Madeline put one of our corn hole boards down towards the bottom of the hill in our backyard and covered it with a piece of cardboard in preparation for some "extreme" sledding come morning.  Kenan kept running to the back door and yelling "It snowing Mommy!"  I knew we were in for a long night.  How could they possibly sleep when they were that excited? 

Well, about a quarter to four Kenan wakes up crying and then Madeline walks into our room.  It had started sleeting and the noise it made on their windows was loud enough that it woke them both up.  Everyone piled into our bed which must have looked like a scene straight out of Willy*Wonka with all four of us in there together.  (You remember the scenes with the four grandparents in bed together?)  After a few minutes I knew that I'd never get back to sleep with a talking 2 year old in the bed so I grabbed my pillow and headed to Madeline's room.  The sleet was so loud and I was completely awake at this point that it took me an hour to fall back asleep.  When Rex woke me up Saturday morning I truely thought I had only been there a little while.  I knew I had very anxious youngin's so I dragged myself out of my warm cocoon to go out into our winter wondersleetland. 

We spent the morning sledding... (the ramp actually worked!)

...and sledding...

...running back up the hill ...

...and sledding... (like my hair?)

...and sledding.

Then it was time to drive the jeep...

...and ride bikes.  Hey, we live in the south, what else is there to do when you can't build a snowman?

Once we were all thoroughly chilled and starting to get cranky (probably frost bite setting in) we headed inside for some hot chocolate and warm soup.

What a way to spend a Saturday!

Blogoversary!

Happy Blogoversary To Me! 

What are you supposed to talk about on your blogoversary? I have no idea what the tradition is so I'm gonna go with my experience so far. (If you know what I'm supposed to do leave me a comment so I can follow the rules.)

I've been at this for one year now and while it hasn't turned out like I thought it would, it's still been fun.  I've met some great people who have the same hopes and dreams as I do, some have been through similar circumstances and we've encouraged one another, but most share the same love for a great God which makes us part of His family.  While this hasn't turned out to be some grandios thing, (I admit, I'm a little disappointed that I haven't attracted more people, just being real here) I believe I've met exactly who I was supposed to.  Those connections have been so special and I'll always be thankful for them.  

BTW, did you know you don't have to have a blogger account to leave a comment?  I'm just telling you this because I know you're out there.  Yes, you lurker you!  I can say that because I used to be one.  I see the counter going up which means you're stopping by, thank you so much for being here, but I'd like to hear from you and find out who I'm reaching.  I have met some very nice people all over the country by leaving comments and I'd like to get to know you too.  This is your official pep talk!  Let me encourage you, it's easy, just click 'comments' at the end of each post.  I know you can do it!  I can't wait to meet you friend!

Next stop, 100th post!  Don't know exactly when but it'll be some time this year before my next blogoversary.  Hope you're here for that too!

FINAL Job Update

Yes, you heard me right.  I won't have to keep telling you he's still looking because

HE GOT THE JOB!!!!!

Praise the Lord!  After starting in to the 12th month of lay off an offer was given and accepted.  His first day will be Feb. 8th. 

This is the company that he flew to N*wY*rk three days after surgery to interview with at their headquarters.  The local office is only 10 - 15 minutes from home!  Yea!

It may take awhile but life can begin to return to normal, whatever that is.  I'm going to have to readjust to having him gone again.  He has spoiled me with his house husband-ness, parts of me doesn't want him to be gone.  Our bank account on the other hand says different!

I'd like to thank all the people who helped us make it through these last few months.  Without your generosity things would have certainly been much more diffucult.  We love you and thank God for you.  Please know that your kindness will never be forgotten and you will forever be part of our testimony.  The Lord used you in a mighty way as He provided for us.  Blessed be Jehovah-Jireh!

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In other news:

Rex has healed nicely since the surgery.  The week after being in the hospital his incision started bleeding whenever he would move certain ways or rubbed against it with his belt buckle.  This went on for about 4 days until he found ways to protect it better and not lift heavy things.  Since then it's had a chance to completely close and all is back to normal, minus one appendix.

I have been on a quest to find local Guatemalan adoptive families and was able to find someone not too far from me.  Hopefully we will get to know each other better and our kids can meet and form a friendship.  If you know of anyone in and around the Charlotte area, please send them my way!

Our family is getting ready to celebrate some important days.  Keep checking back to find out what they are and you can celebrate with us!

Job Update

Haven't talked about this in a while because there hasn't been much to report.  He's still looking and interviewing, currently on final interviews at a company's headquarters in N*wY*rk.  That's right...
After having surgery Monday night he flew out three days later so he wouldn't miss it.  A final decision is supposed to be made Tuesday of next week and there was no way he was going to reschedule.  You can't keep a good man down!

When people hear N*wY*rk they always ask if we would have to move.  Praise the Lord, no! I don't mean that in a bad way it's just that we like where we are and don't feel called to relocate.  The office he'd be at is about ten to fifteen minutes from home.  It's an ideal situation. 

I'm claiming the promise of Ephesians 3:20.  "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."  That has already been the case for this week and my prayer is for that to continue.  We believe He has the perfect job set aside and we want to be found faithful in our waiting. 

Join with me today as I lift up my strong man.  That he will say the right things and make the necessary impression to receive an offer.  Then, for safe travel as he flies home. 

Living In A Whirlwind

I'm really having trouble knowing even how to begin, we've been living in a whirlwind for the past couple of days.  First a quick update on K-Man since my last post.  You'd never know anything had happened to him.  He was sore the next day and kept saying, "Watch my head."  Ever since then, he's been back to his usual cute self.  He'll have his stitches taken out next week some time. 

The next day, Saturday, we were supposed to have our annual New Year's get-together with Rex's running buddies and their families at our former Sunday School teacher's house but it was canceled that morning due to illness.  Three of the six families were healthy and in town so we decided that we'd still meet since we had all planned to do it anyway.  We laughed, talked, played games, laughed some more, and ate way too much.  We always have the best time with those folks.

Moving on to Sunday.  My dear, sweet husband was ordained as a deacon during the evening service. 

I couldn't be prouder of him!  I've watched as his relationship with the Lord has grown this past year and it just blesses my heart!

He is a champion for our family and does all he can for us.  We love him so much!

During the service it was mentioned how s*t*n likes to attack us.  We had no idea it would happen so soon!

Around 10 o'clock Sunday night poor Rex is doubled over with severe stomach pain.  He thought maybe he had food poisoning from eating some bad leftovers.  He just couldn't get comfortable and was up and down all night.  By 10 o'clock Monday morning he was telling me it was so bad that he was going to the doctor.  For my man to go to the doctor means he must really be in bad shape. 

From the urgent care he was sent to have a ct-scan done to confirm appendicitis.  Sure enough, that's what was going on.  He was then told to be at the hospital within the hour.  By the way, this was the second visit to urgent care for one of us already this year, and the year was only 4 days old! 

He was taken back to surgery at 5 o'clock.  Love the hat honey!

The surgery only lasted about 45 minutes.  Everything went well so they moved him up to a private room to recover.  We were planning on going home around 9:30 but just about that time he started getting sick from the anesthesia.  It didn't help that he hadn't eaten all day.  We decided at that point it might be better if he stayed overnight. 

My mom was already scheduled to be in town for a doctor's appointment yesterday morning and was planning on spending the night.  Talk about God's perfect timing!  She was able to stay with the kids while I was at the hospital so there was never an issue with childcare.  It's no coincidence that all the details had already been taken care of.  God is so cool like that! 

After getting the kids ready for school this morning, I went back out to the hospital to pick up my sweetie, minus one appendix.  He has a big purple buise on his abdomen and walks kinda slow but he's been up and around the house for the rest of the day.  I have to keep reminding him to take it easy.

Whew!  So it's been an eventful few days at our house.  It's also been amazing to see how God has put all these pieces together like a puzzle.  What a mighty God we serve!  To Him be all the praise and glory!