Monday, October 15, 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Sitting in the middle....
I have to admit this to you as well as to myself. Waiting has never been something I have done gracefully. I try to push through and get things done on my own strength.
Through this whole adoption process The Lord has taught me how to wait on him. I'm not good at it but at least I feel I have moved from the driver's seat to the seat in the middle. You remember that seat when you were younger the bench seat up front.Mom would sit on one side and dad on the other and me in the middle..Well that's where I am driving down this adoption road. Sitting in the middle seat and telling God "you should of turned there" and Him saying "who's driving" well you are Lord. He looks at me and tells me He knows exactly where he is going and he does not need me to tell him how to get there or where to turn. He does not need me to tell him when we need to leave.So I sit back and relax knowing that he has it all under control and knowing that my life, our adoption, my dad, Joesph are all under His control and I can trust him... I can enjoy the ride and know that I can sleep because he is driving.
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified;do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
Thank you Lord,
Robin
Friday, October 12, 2007
My Dad
Well I thought I would throw a quick up date on my dad.
He is some better. His talking has improved and he seems
to know where he is now.
I talked to him about coming and putting his travel trailer
on the front of our property for a while. I know he has along
way to go before that happens but I wanted to give him something
to look forward to.
He looked half way interested.He was worrying about paying me rent.
I would be so happy if he got better and lived out the remainder of his
life here. He could be the grandpa my kids have never had and take them
fishing and stuff. I know I know I'm dreaming.....I don't want to put pressure
on him or anything but I sure would like for him to start a new life. Why not start
a new life with me...It was really nice walking out of the hospital with a hope
that he might be ok.
Robin
He is some better. His talking has improved and he seems
to know where he is now.
I talked to him about coming and putting his travel trailer
on the front of our property for a while. I know he has along
way to go before that happens but I wanted to give him something
to look forward to.
He looked half way interested.He was worrying about paying me rent.
I would be so happy if he got better and lived out the remainder of his
life here. He could be the grandpa my kids have never had and take them
fishing and stuff. I know I know I'm dreaming.....I don't want to put pressure
on him or anything but I sure would like for him to start a new life. Why not start
a new life with me...It was really nice walking out of the hospital with a hope
that he might be ok.
Robin
Great Prizes for a Great cause.......
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Great Prizes for a Great Cause
Do you like winning things? Do you like helping people? If you answered "yes" to both questions, this is the place for you. (I won't ask which you like better!) Now, first: the story, then: the gifts!
I want to introduce you to a family. Jon and Christie D. (no last name to protect identity) and their boys. Jon is our wonderful pastor and the best shepherd of a flock that I have ever seen! He and his wife, Christie, love our church and serve it faithfully and sacrificially. I could go on and on and list the ways that they serve our church body and the community that we are in. I could list the times they were called to help someone in the middle of the night. . .The number of community organizations that Jon sits on boards for. . .the number of life lessons I have learned through their faithful example. However, all you really need to know is that they are amazing, faithful people full of integrity. They also happen to be adopting. After 10 years of infertility, Jon and Christie thought adoption would be the way that God chose to expand their family. God had a surprise in store for them, 6 years ago when they found out that they were pregnant with their first son. 3 years later, surprise little boy number 2 came along! While Jon and Christie love their little boys, they still felt their family was not complete. They continued to try to get pregnant while pursuing the options in adoption. This year has brought 2 miscarriages and a renewed sense of God's call to help the orphans through adoption. They prayerfully considered many countries open for adoption and soon settled on VIETNAM! They are now pursuing an adoption of a little girl.
You may be thinking, "how does this affect me?". God's Word is clear about helping others. He says over and over throughout the Bible to "share with God's people who are in need" (Romans 12:13), especially pastors ( I Tim. 5:17-18)! Please join us in helping this wonderful family answer God's call to care for a little girl halfway around the world who needs a family so desperately.
THE BONUS!!!!!
We are giving away PRIZES!!!! Now, are you curious?
Prize #1: TIFFANY & CO. SILVER NECKLACE (Return to Tiffany, Oval Tag)
*used but polished and comes with tiffany box complete white bow
Prize #2: Pampered Chef Basket full of fun and useful kitchen tools
Prize #3: A Goodie Bag of Professional Beauty Supplies (donated by Friends Beauty Supply)
Prize #4: Sea World Tickets for 2
Prize #5: TimeWise® Microdermabrasion Set from Mary Kay
Prize #6: A new blog header and background by Whitney R.
*the girl who just redesigned mine
* For every $5 you donate, your name will be entered in our contest. (so, if you donate $20, your name will be entered 4 times and so on and so forth, you get the picture)
* If you cut and paste this post on your blog to encourage your readers to join in on the fun, guess what? We will enter your name AGAIN.
* If people donate from your blog, ask them to write your blogname in the "Comments" section and for every $100 donated, we'll enter your name a THIRD TIME.
Contest winners will be drawn at random as soon as all of the money is raised! Let's go girls!
Just go back to your blog, write a post encouraging your readers to join in the fun and link this post. Then, come back here and add your name through "Mr. Linky".
1. Becki
2. Laura 3. Erin
4. Dearest Jessica 5. Jen
6.
You're next!
This site is using auto-links. If you are participating in Great Prizes for a Great Cause, enter your name and URL in the form below and press Enter.
Your name:
Your URL:
Please leave a comment after linking... Thank you!
And have you read about Mister Linky's new features?
Don't forget to leave a comment... Thank you!
Sorry about this morning's downtime!! (read more)
Learn more about Great Prizes for a Great Cause here.
Posted by Brandi at 5:41 PM 4 comments Links to this post
Great Prizes for a Great Cause
Do you like winning things? Do you like helping people? If you answered "yes" to both questions, this is the place for you. (I won't ask which you like better!) Now, first: the story, then: the gifts!
I want to introduce you to a family. Jon and Christie D. (no last name to protect identity) and their boys. Jon is our wonderful pastor and the best shepherd of a flock that I have ever seen! He and his wife, Christie, love our church and serve it faithfully and sacrificially. I could go on and on and list the ways that they serve our church body and the community that we are in. I could list the times they were called to help someone in the middle of the night. . .The number of community organizations that Jon sits on boards for. . .the number of life lessons I have learned through their faithful example. However, all you really need to know is that they are amazing, faithful people full of integrity. They also happen to be adopting. After 10 years of infertility, Jon and Christie thought adoption would be the way that God chose to expand their family. God had a surprise in store for them, 6 years ago when they found out that they were pregnant with their first son. 3 years later, surprise little boy number 2 came along! While Jon and Christie love their little boys, they still felt their family was not complete. They continued to try to get pregnant while pursuing the options in adoption. This year has brought 2 miscarriages and a renewed sense of God's call to help the orphans through adoption. They prayerfully considered many countries open for adoption and soon settled on VIETNAM! They are now pursuing an adoption of a little girl.
You may be thinking, "how does this affect me?". God's Word is clear about helping others. He says over and over throughout the Bible to "share with God's people who are in need" (Romans 12:13), especially pastors ( I Tim. 5:17-18)! Please join us in helping this wonderful family answer God's call to care for a little girl halfway around the world who needs a family so desperately.
THE BONUS!!!!!
We are giving away PRIZES!!!! Now, are you curious?
Prize #1: TIFFANY & CO. SILVER NECKLACE (Return to Tiffany, Oval Tag)
*used but polished and comes with tiffany box complete white bow
Prize #2: Pampered Chef Basket full of fun and useful kitchen tools
Prize #3: A Goodie Bag of Professional Beauty Supplies (donated by Friends Beauty Supply)
Prize #4: Sea World Tickets for 2
Prize #5: TimeWise® Microdermabrasion Set from Mary Kay
Prize #6: A new blog header and background by Whitney R.
*the girl who just redesigned mine
* For every $5 you donate, your name will be entered in our contest. (so, if you donate $20, your name will be entered 4 times and so on and so forth, you get the picture)
* If you cut and paste this post on your blog to encourage your readers to join in on the fun, guess what? We will enter your name AGAIN.
* If people donate from your blog, ask them to write your blogname in the "Comments" section and for every $100 donated, we'll enter your name a THIRD TIME.
Contest winners will be drawn at random as soon as all of the money is raised! Let's go girls!
Just go back to your blog, write a post encouraging your readers to join in the fun and link this post. Then, come back here and add your name through "Mr. Linky".
1. Becki
2. Laura 3. Erin
4. Dearest Jessica 5. Jen
6.
You're next!
This site is using auto-links. If you are participating in Great Prizes for a Great Cause, enter your name and URL in the form below and press Enter.
Your name:
Your URL:
Please leave a comment after linking... Thank you!
And have you read about Mister Linky's new features?
Don't forget to leave a comment... Thank you!
Sorry about this morning's downtime!! (read more)
Learn more about Great Prizes for a Great Cause here.
Posted by Brandi at 5:41 PM 4 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Joesph's Visa Apt.
Well we found out that Jo's visa appt is not until Oct.23 and 25 this is where his case will be presented to the US visa lady who will determine if he is an orphan and can leave Liberia. So we have a few weeks to get things finished up here.
We have been told that she (the visa lady) is trying to protect every child and to make sure every child is an orphan and not just a Victim of child trafficking. So I do respect her for making sure everything is done right but it's a lot of work for the Acres of Hope staff to make sure everything is done perfectly..
My dad is not doing well. He is mentally not there. The Dr's don't know why. They have him on no medication or anything that would make him act so goofy. He can talk but you can't understand him alot of the time. He thinks that he is in prison and is being accused of stealing 16 million dollars. He REALLY believes this and you can't convince him otherwise.
I can tell him I love him and he says it back and he knows me it seems but you can't really be for-sure...It's so sad to see one of your parents in this shape. He can't even get a drink by himself. He can do nothing. He just lays there and talks to you and I look at him and wonder if he will ever come out of this. My heart just breaks every time I go to see him. I hate seeing him like this. I hate the way the nurses and staff look at him. I hate the way our relationship is and was. It puts me in such a state of confusion over what it is I'm supposed to be doing. I have seen him one time this whole year. On his birthday in March. I have not heard from him since, what am I supposed to be feeling?
I can't stay at the hospital because I have 5 kids and one on the way. But my first response is to go in and try to fix everything. I can't fix this.
I can't fix my dad I have never been able to. What makes me think I can do anything now.
I guess the Jim Beam won. I don't think my dad will be ok. I don't think he can come back from this. He seemed worse today and they are talking of putting a feeding tube in.
Gosh that seems weird to write about my own dad. A feeding tube.
Please just pray for our family. It's tough but I know that God is working all of this together for His glory and my good.
Robin
We have been told that she (the visa lady) is trying to protect every child and to make sure every child is an orphan and not just a Victim of child trafficking. So I do respect her for making sure everything is done right but it's a lot of work for the Acres of Hope staff to make sure everything is done perfectly..
My dad is not doing well. He is mentally not there. The Dr's don't know why. They have him on no medication or anything that would make him act so goofy. He can talk but you can't understand him alot of the time. He thinks that he is in prison and is being accused of stealing 16 million dollars. He REALLY believes this and you can't convince him otherwise.
I can tell him I love him and he says it back and he knows me it seems but you can't really be for-sure...It's so sad to see one of your parents in this shape. He can't even get a drink by himself. He can do nothing. He just lays there and talks to you and I look at him and wonder if he will ever come out of this. My heart just breaks every time I go to see him. I hate seeing him like this. I hate the way the nurses and staff look at him. I hate the way our relationship is and was. It puts me in such a state of confusion over what it is I'm supposed to be doing. I have seen him one time this whole year. On his birthday in March. I have not heard from him since, what am I supposed to be feeling?
I can't stay at the hospital because I have 5 kids and one on the way. But my first response is to go in and try to fix everything. I can't fix this.
I can't fix my dad I have never been able to. What makes me think I can do anything now.
I guess the Jim Beam won. I don't think my dad will be ok. I don't think he can come back from this. He seemed worse today and they are talking of putting a feeding tube in.
Gosh that seems weird to write about my own dad. A feeding tube.
Please just pray for our family. It's tough but I know that God is working all of this together for His glory and my good.
Robin
Friday, October 5, 2007
Joesph is coming home..
Yesterday we got the news that our baby boy is coming home.
He got his pass-port!!!!
We are so excited and can't wait to travel to meet our newest member of the family.
I cannot believe it's so close now.
Good night sweet Jo and I'm coming to get ya...........................
He got his pass-port!!!!
We are so excited and can't wait to travel to meet our newest member of the family.
I cannot believe it's so close now.
Good night sweet Jo and I'm coming to get ya...........................
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
My Dad.
I got some very sad news this morning. My dad has had three massive heart attacks and his kidneys are shutting down and his liver.I found myself crying out loud. You never think that you will get that phone call and then you do. I have often thought of this call and wondered how I would process it.You see my dad is an alcoholic and he has been for as long as I have been his daughter. I have never known him other than the sober him or the drunk him. It's always one or the other.You plan your day around it plan your night around based on his drinking.Growing up is hard when you have an alcohlic father. He was always there but with that came a burden of his long nights. No-one at his job knew he drank so it was like a family secret. Everyone Loved my father and thought he was so funny and out going and to be honest he was and is. He and I never
really connected as father and daughters should. I hated his drinking and he knew that so he would push me away some and I would let him. Our relationship was mixed with fear of him and never understanding why I couldn't have a dad that loved me. Looking back I'm sure he loved me but when your a 11-12 year old girl you need your daddy to let you know that your his princess. I grew up surviving my child-hood by God's grace. It was scary at times and it was sad alot of the times. God saw me through those years and I learned early to trust in the Lord.
For years I wondered why God didn't give me a story book child-hood. I would ask but it wasn't until years later that he God gave me the answer.
While raising my own precious children I began to forgive my dad. As I held my own kids I felt sorry for my father that he could never love us the way your supposed to love your kids. Alcohol had stolen him from me and my brothers. Alcohol took a man who was supposed to be MY daddy and held him prisoner in his own body and no one could set him free. He is hostage to a disease that this culture promotes and that kids think that it's cool. I have tried over the years to help my dad to plead with him to stop drinking but he would say Priss I can't.
I have checked him in rehab and told him I was there every step of the way...He would get out and start drinking again.
He never understood my life style he always thought I had lost my last marble when we started homeschooling or having another baby. He started coming around less and less because he knew that Scott and I wouldn't allow his drinking around the kids. We really wanted to see him though so we would
get together with him at restaurants and graduations ete but it's always short and always when he was not drinking.
He has told me more times in the past few years how proud he is of me because of my family. He sends Christmas money every year and emails the kids for their birthday and alittle part of me thinks he remembered......
Well, this morning all the memories came flooding back to me. The funny thing is that God gave me all the good memories that flooded my mind and my heart. I just knew I needed to see him and tell him that I loved him.
When I walked in he looked so little and not all like I expected him to look. He looked very sad to me. I couldn't help but to start crying and I knew he would not want me standing over him crying. I touched his hand and said "I love you dad"
He looked at me behind a pair of eyes that I would recognize anywhere and said" I love you too Prissy". That was the name he always called me Prissy. It's simple but it means alot to me. Prissy. I may not have been his princess but I was his Prissy.
The nurses let us stay for an hour. He can't breath real good, so understanding him was hard at times but he kept talking so I kept listening. It was not hard understanding him say I love you when I left.
They are trying to get him ready to have Open Heart Surgery. How ironic that Him and Joesph both will have to have Open Heart Surgery. It is going to be along road for my dad. But..He like Joesph will not be alone. I will never give up praying that my Lord will heal him. I will never give up praying that Alcohol will leave his life forever. I think its time that he lets my dad be my daddy.
If my childhood would have been anything else other that what it was then I would be a different person. I may not have had such a desire to make sure my children knew the Lord and trusted him in all things. Good or Bad God will not leave us. There will be bad times in every ones life but God knows the reason we go through things.
I can honestly say now that I'm older that I understand why I had to go through a bad childhood. I broke a cycle that only I could break.Scott and I are first generation Christians. He used us to start a new generation and why I don't know but I'm thankful to be living this life he has given me.
As for you dad I love you dad and I want you to live so I can build memories with you.
I want you to live so that you can get to know your grand kids.
I want you to live so that you know Christ as your Lord and saviour.
I want you to live so that for many many more years I can hear you call me Prissy.
Robin
really connected as father and daughters should. I hated his drinking and he knew that so he would push me away some and I would let him. Our relationship was mixed with fear of him and never understanding why I couldn't have a dad that loved me. Looking back I'm sure he loved me but when your a 11-12 year old girl you need your daddy to let you know that your his princess. I grew up surviving my child-hood by God's grace. It was scary at times and it was sad alot of the times. God saw me through those years and I learned early to trust in the Lord.
For years I wondered why God didn't give me a story book child-hood. I would ask but it wasn't until years later that he God gave me the answer.
While raising my own precious children I began to forgive my dad. As I held my own kids I felt sorry for my father that he could never love us the way your supposed to love your kids. Alcohol had stolen him from me and my brothers. Alcohol took a man who was supposed to be MY daddy and held him prisoner in his own body and no one could set him free. He is hostage to a disease that this culture promotes and that kids think that it's cool. I have tried over the years to help my dad to plead with him to stop drinking but he would say Priss I can't.
I have checked him in rehab and told him I was there every step of the way...He would get out and start drinking again.
He never understood my life style he always thought I had lost my last marble when we started homeschooling or having another baby. He started coming around less and less because he knew that Scott and I wouldn't allow his drinking around the kids. We really wanted to see him though so we would
get together with him at restaurants and graduations ete but it's always short and always when he was not drinking.
He has told me more times in the past few years how proud he is of me because of my family. He sends Christmas money every year and emails the kids for their birthday and alittle part of me thinks he remembered......
Well, this morning all the memories came flooding back to me. The funny thing is that God gave me all the good memories that flooded my mind and my heart. I just knew I needed to see him and tell him that I loved him.
When I walked in he looked so little and not all like I expected him to look. He looked very sad to me. I couldn't help but to start crying and I knew he would not want me standing over him crying. I touched his hand and said "I love you dad"
He looked at me behind a pair of eyes that I would recognize anywhere and said" I love you too Prissy". That was the name he always called me Prissy. It's simple but it means alot to me. Prissy. I may not have been his princess but I was his Prissy.
The nurses let us stay for an hour. He can't breath real good, so understanding him was hard at times but he kept talking so I kept listening. It was not hard understanding him say I love you when I left.
They are trying to get him ready to have Open Heart Surgery. How ironic that Him and Joesph both will have to have Open Heart Surgery. It is going to be along road for my dad. But..He like Joesph will not be alone. I will never give up praying that my Lord will heal him. I will never give up praying that Alcohol will leave his life forever. I think its time that he lets my dad be my daddy.
If my childhood would have been anything else other that what it was then I would be a different person. I may not have had such a desire to make sure my children knew the Lord and trusted him in all things. Good or Bad God will not leave us. There will be bad times in every ones life but God knows the reason we go through things.
I can honestly say now that I'm older that I understand why I had to go through a bad childhood. I broke a cycle that only I could break.Scott and I are first generation Christians. He used us to start a new generation and why I don't know but I'm thankful to be living this life he has given me.
As for you dad I love you dad and I want you to live so I can build memories with you.
I want you to live so that you can get to know your grand kids.
I want you to live so that you know Christ as your Lord and saviour.
I want you to live so that for many many more years I can hear you call me Prissy.
Robin
Monday, October 1, 2007
A Joesph shower
I'm so excited my church is having us a Joesph baby shower on Saturday.
They have been so supportive of our adoption. I can't wait for Joesph
to meet all of these wonderful people. They pray for him every Sunday and I know
he will be loved and accepted when he gets here.
We have not heard anything today. I was hoping for some news on his pass-port but nothing so far. There is always tomorrow. I have felt better today than I have in a few days. These shots and pills are rough. I can't wait until I'm through with all of the Typhoid pills for some reason I feel very sick the day after I take them. I know all of this will be worth it when I hold his sweet little body in my arms..
I have bought him a ton of snacks hoping that he will like me for my sweets.:)
He has soooo many clothes and shoes I can't decide what to take.
I have thought about doing cloth diapers because that is what he is used to but everyone thinks I've lost it. It never hurts to try something new.
Well, I'm off to bed my days have seemed lonnnnger. Time has slowed way down.
Kinda like your 9 months pregnant and waiting to deliver and it seems like it will never get here.
Rob
They have been so supportive of our adoption. I can't wait for Joesph
to meet all of these wonderful people. They pray for him every Sunday and I know
he will be loved and accepted when he gets here.
We have not heard anything today. I was hoping for some news on his pass-port but nothing so far. There is always tomorrow. I have felt better today than I have in a few days. These shots and pills are rough. I can't wait until I'm through with all of the Typhoid pills for some reason I feel very sick the day after I take them. I know all of this will be worth it when I hold his sweet little body in my arms..
I have bought him a ton of snacks hoping that he will like me for my sweets.:)
He has soooo many clothes and shoes I can't decide what to take.
I have thought about doing cloth diapers because that is what he is used to but everyone thinks I've lost it. It never hurts to try something new.
Well, I'm off to bed my days have seemed lonnnnger. Time has slowed way down.
Kinda like your 9 months pregnant and waiting to deliver and it seems like it will never get here.
Rob
Saturday, September 29, 2007
This road less traveled is deserted.
Ok I'm alittle emotional. It's getting close. I can see him in my dreams. I see him when I close my eyes. I see him when I wake up in the morning. I dream about him.
I worry about him. I need to get to him already and try and make his life better.
I don't wont to be too late to get him help. I want this to be a happy ending.
I want to one day tell him how sick he was and how he came to the U.S. and had a surgery that changed his life. I want to be looking back on all of this a few years down the road.When he is safe and healthy. I'm scared.
I'm doing everything I'm supposed to be doing right now. Shots, visas, pills, packing,
worrying, and yet I don't feel like I'm doing enough. Please pray for my emotional side, and if you know me at all you know I have one of those. That I can keep calm and walk this road with Faith and diligence. I don't know how bad off he is but God does and he is in control and he has brought us down this path good or bad and I just have to walk it.... So I lift Joesph Turner up tonight and I pray that he will live and that he will get the help he needs..........
I worry about him. I need to get to him already and try and make his life better.
I don't wont to be too late to get him help. I want this to be a happy ending.
I want to one day tell him how sick he was and how he came to the U.S. and had a surgery that changed his life. I want to be looking back on all of this a few years down the road.When he is safe and healthy. I'm scared.
I'm doing everything I'm supposed to be doing right now. Shots, visas, pills, packing,
worrying, and yet I don't feel like I'm doing enough. Please pray for my emotional side, and if you know me at all you know I have one of those. That I can keep calm and walk this road with Faith and diligence. I don't know how bad off he is but God does and he is in control and he has brought us down this path good or bad and I just have to walk it.... So I lift Joesph Turner up tonight and I pray that he will live and that he will get the help he needs..........
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