Mountain Moving Faith

I'm reading "The Power of a Praying Woman" by Stormie OMartian. It was given to me for Christmas along with "Power of a Praying Wife" & "Power of a Praying Parent" by an awesome friend. Thanks T! I've read so many things that I want to remember, to remind myself, to share. I'm going to start with this one.

The chapter starts out with remind us of Matthew 17:20 "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'move from here to there', and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

Wow- How powerful is that? She goes on to say "If that's all the faith it takes to move mountains, then surely I can come up with enough to move the obstacles in my life."

We have put all of our faith into our plan for adoption. Along the way I've ran into people who asked me "don't you think you'll jinx it" when they heard all the things we were doing. We did some work around our house, we got new carpet & floors and then we started taking big steps. We weren't yet approved (still aren't yet) and we were buying furniture for the nursery, bedding, toys, clothes, etc.. Several people would say again "don't you think you should wait?"

Wait on what? was my question. We wouldn't have taken this road unless we were 100% sure that it is what God had planned for us. We felt like he had spoken to us in huge ways over the past years about adoption. God is good like that.

The thing is, you have to be open to those times he sends signs to you or speaks to you. I don't think he is going to drop a banner in front of you that says "You should sell your house." I do believe, from personal experience, that if you are walking with him and having a real relationship with him, he will speak to you or send you signs. When we sold our house 5 years ago, we prayed asking God if it was the right thing to do. We felt like it was and we started working with an agent. She was wonderful and we knew from the first moment that God had sent us a sign, he'd made our paths cross. I prayed that if it were right, please let it happen fast. We didn't want to be on the market for months and months, years and years. We put our house on the market, it was shown about 6 times in the first week and by the second week we had a contract! It couldn't have happened faster, God is good!

Before Andy & I got married I was teaching Pre-K for someone whom I wasn't thrilled to work for. I prayed about it all the time. I got a random offer out of the blue offering me another Pre-K position at a brand new center, on a recommendation from a previous student's parent. I hadn't looked for the job, it dropped in my lap. It LOOKED like it was a sign from God. I paused to pray again, was this what I was suppose to do. I struggled b/c my Dad had always been very firm about teaching me "you finish what you start" and I believe that with my whole heart. Could I leave this group of kids I was working with, in the middle of a year? Did God send me a new job, without me looking at all. After praying I went to school one day to have an amazing conversation with a 4 year old. Her family was a Christian family and she was an awesome little girl, we'll refer to her as K. She told me that she'd dreamed about me the night before and I was crying. She said I was crying because something happened and I thought I might have to leave them. She told me in her dream, don't cry.. you'd never leave us like that. That was my sign, not the new job that would have been so much easier. It was a new center, a great new boss compared to where I was. I could have very easily read the wrong sign there, had I not continued to pray and seek God's will. It was the children that I do it for and it was in the form of a child that God spoke to me! He can use anyone, anytime, anywhere!

Back to Stormie, she says "Whether you realize it or not, you are living by faith everyday. Each time you go to a doctor, you trust he will do the right thing. When you buy medicine from the pharmacy, you believe they will fill your prescription correctly. ...... How much easier and more certain is it to trust God?"

"We have no idea what great things God wants us to do through us if we would just step out in faith when He asks us to." That's why he lets us go through difficult times. Times when we feel weak and vulnerable so that we will turn to Him and give Him our full attention. It's in those times, when we are forced to pray in greater faith, that our faith grows stronger."

Matthew 9:29 "According to your faith let it be to you" That could be scary for some people!! May I have enough faith, that God can do those things he wants in my life accordingly!!!!! May I be close enough to him to know what he wants for my life, find my purpose and see or hear his message. If we aren't having any sort of relationship with Christ, how in the world can he do great things in our life? How can he show us what road to take? How can he give us the miracles he so wants us to have? It's not always easy to stay on the right path, but I'm on it... and I'm holding onto it with both hands!!

"God, please take the tiny seed of faith that is often all I have. Grow it into a giant tree of faith so you can see all the things you want for me - come to be!"

He is Risen,
What now?

That was the title of Mike's sermon at church yesterday. It wasn't a typical "Easter sermon", if there is such a thing. We of course sang chorus' of praise to our risen Saviour on such a beautiful Easter morning!

Then we began our study on Onesiphorus. Who is that? Onesiphorus was a "minister of refreshment" in the New Testament. What in the world is she talking about? (That's what I was thinking about Mike as well!!)

We read in 2 Timothy where Paul was writing his very last letter to Timothy. If you recall, he was in jail. Think more, hole in the floor .. dungeon! He was lonely, very very lonely. He says there in 2 Timothy that he was deserted by everyone. His friends, family and even his church. Where he had once been surrounded by people who supported him, they all turned their backs when he was sent to jail.

Mike went on to talk about how many lonely people there are in the church, at work, in our homes, on our streets, in our communities. It doesn't matter if we're in a house full of family or have tons of friends to hang out with, we can still feel lonely on the inside. Isn't that true, we've all felt it.

Onesiphorus was a long time friend of Paul, from what we gather. He went on to say that when Onesiphorus came to town, the first thing he did was come to jail to see Paul. He didn't care that he was in jail, that he had to probably shout down through a dark hole to talk to him. He loved his friend and when visiting him, brought Paul a time of refreshment. It lifted his spirits, made him feel "not so" alone anymore. It made his soul rejoice. He said "May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day!" (2 Tim. 1:18) He wants the Lord to bless Onesiphorus for being such a faithful friend.

We all make mistakes. Families are made out of people who make mistakes, churches are filled with people who make mistakes. May we all find friends who will love us IN SPITE OF those failures. Even more important though, may we LOOK FOR friends who we can REFRESH in spite of their mistakes, failures or hard times.

It's our job, it's what God wants us to do. He wants us to be saved, have a relationship with him and spend eternity with him. What do we do meantime though?? That was the point of Mike's sermon. He is Risen, we are saved if we accept him. Then what? Then what are we going to do with our lives, with Christ's love? We are to be a spirit of refreshment for those around us. I'm sure we can think of people that might need a little encouragement: a phone call, a visit, an encouraging card or just a pat on the shoulder. May we all look for people that we can bless in our everyday lives.

I thought it was a fantastic take on what Easter can mean to us all!


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On a different Easter note. I spent 45 minutes sitting on the floor in a Christian book store last week looking for a good book to share the story of Easter with my kiddos at preschool. I have a few books, but they just weren't what I wanted this year. I found that either the text was too much, the pictures were too graphic and it just wasn't the way I wanted to share the Easter story with my little ones.

Our Bible verse this month is "Jesus has Risen, just like he said he would." from Matthew. Our prayer is "Help me to tell others the good news about Jesus." I wanted a book that would tell the children what good news they were suppose to share. We talked about it and they are all aware they are suppose to tell others that Jesus loves them and to show people that in their actions. Still, I wanted it all in a story.

I found it! I found a book called "God's love at Easter" by: Joy Morgan Davis. It's great!! It's very simple text. It's also has a rhyming pattern and you know how that helps the children keep their attention on the story. It reminds us about Jesus living with his family on Earth and loving others. (Which was nice to pause and review what we know about Jesus' birth and childhood) Then it talked briefly about his ministering to others (again, good time to review those other Bible stories) and then it talked about his death on the cross. It went on to tell how he arose on the third day and how he appeared to people on Earth and waits for us in Heaven. It ends with saying we need to tell others about God's love. It tells the whole story, all the points I wanted to share. It's a great book!!

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And no a final note... There is nothing more refreshing to me than standing in church on a beautiful Easter sunny Sunday morning, singing praise songs with my church family. There's just something amazing, powerful and "big" about it. I'm so thankful we returned "home" to our church. We spent several years visiting, searching and even being VERY actively involved in other churches. I cherish that time, we made some awesome memories with awesome people. There is something about "being home" though, with those who know you and love you anyway. Those who have watched you grow up, been there through the good times and bad. Here are the words to a praise song we sang yesterday, music moves me in BIG ways. "Mighty to Save" by Hillsong!

Everyone needs compassion
A love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
A kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations

Savior
He can move the mountains
My God is Mighty to save
He is Mighty to save
Forever
Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus



And the song...you can watch & listen!

Typing Test

I took typing in high school, did you? At the time I thought it was silly, but it has paid off 10 fold over the years. I made money a few times in college typing papers for people. I had now much rather type a letter or email than write anything. (Maybe that's also because of my lack of being able to spell, plus the reason that I now write like I talk - in thoughts rather than grammatically correct)

Anyway, found this link to a typing test on another blog. Thought it was fun. 64 on my first try and 84 on my second try. I like this one and will continue to try to improve my speed I imagine. It's harder to type these random words than complete sentences, but it's still fun and challenging.

Enjoy

84 words

Speedtest

The Big Mail Off

Yesterday was a big day in the journey of adoption! After 4 & a half months of paperwork, we finally mailed the last pieces off to our adoption coordinator. (with a HUGE sigh of relief might I add) We started with a two page list of things to turn in, was surprised with an extra page of to dos in late January. Done, done, done! There were many adventures along the way.

Like the fun (old, grouchy, serious) lady who takes her job at the 911 office very, very seriously. She was flabbergasted with me because I wanted something saying we had NOT called 911 in the past 5 years. (or ever for that matter) She couldn't understand why, though I had explained in detail from the second I walked in what we were doing, I needed a report or letter with nothing on it. Then there was the trip to the Marietta License Building to get our certified marriage license where I tried to walk OUT the IN, security guards and my husband all laughing the entire time. Boys- There was the stalking and begging that I had to do in order to get a physical that hadn't been scheduled for over a year, I mean seriously ... There was the fact that Andy had to get one test twice because no on seems to understand when you'd like results back within a few months time! There was the search for somewhere to take a 10-panel drug screen, who knew those things were so hard to get. The seedy little place we went is a whole different story in itself. (Seems Tuesday is half off HIV test day and you can now get a paternity test for ONLY $395, must be a bargain by the SALE signs they had posted. I kid you not)

There was the 12 page "paper" we wrote for our autobiography. Well, MINE was 12 pages (imagine that) and Andy's was about 7. Then there was the 7 page questionnaire that we also had to write. Just like being in school again. It was interesting to think back about your life and get it all down on paper. There was the septic tank inspection. "Seriously???" you ask, "YES, SERIOUSLY!" Let me know when they start requiring those for people who give birth in the hospital. I'm just sayin'

This list goes on, but it is now complete. Complete with many little green lines. I used a green marker to happily strike through each and everything as it traveled from the Post Office (usually via over night or certified mail) into the hands of the IAC.

With the paperwork, I also mailed off the "Birth Mom Letter". This is one of the hardest things of all. I knew the general idea and had been working on it even before we signed our contract. We had pages and pages and pages in our "notebook" on guidelines for this letter. We sat through hours and hours and hours of discussion about it at our weekend intensive workshop. We looked at dozens of examples. Keep in mind that we are trying to present ourselves, our lives, our values, our hopes & dreams, our family & friends, our traditions, our desire for a child, all on a piece of paper front and back. While meeting all these guidelines. It is seriously over whelming! (Especially for someone who likes to talk ..ramble.. as much as I do. YOU KNOW ME)
You need pictures for a glimpse into your lives.... that is a whole other set of problems.

There are again, pages and pages and pages of guidelines on this picture for the front you must have. I have thousands of pictures (You know me, right???) Photography is quite the obsession. A friend made fun of me once, "you have ALOT of pictures of you & Andy in your house". Why, yes I do! I love to be surrounded by pictures of our adventures and life. Just look around, there are PLENTY of all those we love as well. My niece said last week "I don't guess I've ever seen her without her camera". My preschool kids have gotten use to it, they no longer hide or complain, they show me their best "cheesy" grin and go on about their business..... I digress-

We needed a new picture though, the perfect picture. Ugh! We had scheduled twice to meet with a photographer friend's family to take said perfect picture. The first time, we had to cancel due to snow. Snow?? In Georgia?? Yes, the freak snow in Georgia WOULD come on the day I had this planned! The second time, torrential rain. Yep, Georgia who has been in drought conditions the past year... has torrential rain on the second scheduled day. Who knew it would be so hard to get Andy in town and a sunny day, TOGETHER. Dad came up to the plate and took pictures of us once, then we took OUR OWN pictures on another sunny afternoon. I do pretty good work with a bench and a tripod. We'll see if she approves... we like the outcome.

Anyhooo... after months and months of tweaking this thing. Re-writing the text over and over and over and over again. Changing the entire color scheme twice. (Because we changed what we wore from first set of pictures to second) Learning the new computer program bought for just this letter. Making 9 trips to the printer this week, help from Ms. English Major herself *cough*Tracey*cough* on my one difficult sentence.... it's done for now.

Our coordinator will look at *search over with a fine tooth comb & rip apart* the letter and then tell us what edits to make. I hear stories of it taking 1 or 2 edits, others it takes 8-10. Of course we're hoping for the fewer.

She should schedule our home visit, which scares me to death, pretty soon. (I know some of you assure me not to panic, but think back ... you know you did!) Then we have individual interviews with her. Those my friends, are the only things left on the to do list for approval. We are so close, we can see the finish line and it's so very exciting!!

How cute is this?

I found this today on another blog, I can't resist sharing it with yall. Watch it through, only takes a minute at the most. Totally worth it, so funny and sweet!!!

*Turn your volume on*

Tanner Paul Thurmond

March 1, 2008

On Saturday, while at my preschool conference, I got a text message from Andy. It said that Tanner just couldn't wait until Tuesday and arrived earlier that morning! Silly boy, he made his own schedule. He weighed 8 lbs & 9oz.

Uncle Andy & I were headed to the hospital just as soon as we could get on the road!! He's the most perfect little thing that I have ever seen!! He gurgles and gibbers all the time, wonder if he's going to be a talker? Is that a sign? He opened his eyes several times on Saturday evening, just to check me out I think.






Aunt Monica & Uncle Andy
meeting Tanner!














His sister Layla called him her baby upon meeting him; however later that night she wasn't too crazy about the idea of baby brother. I'm sure she'll warm up and she's going to be a great big sister! Here are pictures taken by Aunt Ruthie.






Mimi with Layla and Tanner on the left.

Big sister Layla holding Tanner on the right, I love her look in this one!!














Tanner's proud Mommy, Aimee! Three days old.
(Should have taken one of just as proud Daddy, Jason)

Welcome to the family baby boy!!
We love you!!

Adoption Journey Continued...

Back to our adoption story. We went in late December on Friday & Saturday to a workshop at the IAC office in Tucker. We were there with 5 other couples. We chose to just make a weekend out of it and spend the night in Tucker so we didn't have to make the drive back and forth in traffic. (Oh, we also met a couple who knows a fantastic college friend of mine. Small world!)

We were, once again, ahead of the game with information. I'd learned so much from my friend who'd been through this, it wasn't as new to me as it was to some. We watched some fantastic video interviews with birth parents on their journey and how it changed their life and we watched some with adoptive families and how it's changed their lives. They were all fantastic. We went through a gigantic notebook of information from the center. We learned how to get through the crazy paperwork, tips to make it go faster, what to do while we're waiting, what to expect and so on. We had many of our questions answered. We did several roll playing things where we had to figure out how we would react, not easy things to think through.

It was a roller coaster of emotions for the weekend. I found myself getting so excited and feeling so at peace about the decision. Then we'd run into some unknowns about the situations that can arise and I'd get very nervous, we just have to play so much of it by ear. We were so excited about officially getting the ball rolling and taking those first big steps, we signed our contract. We know this is the path that God wants us to take and we couldn't wait to share it all with our families and friends. We are just so anxious for our child to be a part of our lives, getting through all the other stuff can be a little over whelming. All in God's timing though-

We returned to head straight to a family Christmas party with my Mom's side of the family. When we told them where we'd spend the weekend, they were very excited. Everyone has been waiting right along with us for 8 & 1/2 years for a little one to join us, they are just as ready as we are!

The following weekend we told Andy's entire family at our Christmas get together with them. There were tons of hugs, tears of joy and questions. Again, they are all so very excited!! There are two more babies joining the family this year, so it's going to be amazing for our little one to grow up with their cousins! We could not ask for a more supportive, loving or excited family!

We went to church where I shared the news with a few friends. By the next week we had officially told everyone we come into contact with and were met with amazing excitement and love!!

Since then...

We have completed what seemed like a mountain of paperwork. We've had our fingerprints taken, physicals, drug tests, blood tests, had our phone records checked, our septic tank inspected, gotten copies of marriage license and birth certificates, taken pictures of our house, had our animals all get checked out at the vet, made copies out the wazoo and been checked by just about every agency under the sun. One beautiful Monday morning in February I was thrilled to head to the post office with the final batch of paperwork. Then... I got home to find a brand new packet of paperwork in the mail box. Seems some new things were added in the new year. On we go though, it is all now completed as well.

Up to date: We have been finishing our birth mom letter and we think it's now complete. We had a little trouble getting our photo together. We had a freak Georgia (never happens) snow storm cancel our first photo session, a crazy rain storm for days (we'd been in a drought for a year) cancel the second photo session and eventually decided to try taking some on our own one afternoon. We were pretty happy with the results. We were able to add our new nephew onto it as well, he was born on Saturday. It's gone through , too many to name, changes over the past few months. We are happy with the results though and the glimpse into our lives that it gives. It's hard to share yourself, your lives, your family, your goals for your family and future all onto a one page piece of paper front and back! Thankfully we also have a website that allows me to ramble on and on, sharing as many photos as I want. I know that God is in control and will lead the right birth mom to us through one of these things. We also now have a toll free number, which includes the world "HOPE"!!

Meanwhile we have been waiting on our GBI & FBI fingerprint results to return. As of today, those are in and approved as well. So I will mail off our birth mom letter for approval and we'll see what suggestions for editing are made. We'll get that done and wait on our home visit and individual interviews. Hopefully those things will be scheduled as soon as possible and go quickly. Prayers for speedy approval on our birth mom letter, someone to make it for our home visit quickly and our peace of mind to remain calm are all appreciated.

Nursery Update: My Dad came last week and painted the top half of the walls in a color I'd chosen, it looks fantastic. Dad came Friday night to help Andy move the furniture (we'd bought a few weeks ago) upstairs and into the nursery as well. It's all looking fantastic. I will blog and post pictures of that soon too!!

Plus a blog on our brand new great nephew who is just that, GREAT... coming up next!!