Anyone Else Having Problems with Commenting?

Has Blogger changed things up again? It seems like every time I figure it out, there I am going, "Huh?".

Friends, if I haven't commented on your blog, it's not for lack of trying.

Anyone that wants to "clue me in" on an easy fix...I'd LOVE it!!!

Fingerprints, Prayers, and Medicals

This week just happens to be a big week in the life of our adoption. It is UNBELIEVABLE how close we are to finishing our Dossier (papers that travel to China). We actually had our fingerprints done by immigration today.

Thursday Thomas has his medical for China. As you can imagine, we've been under just a tad bit of stress :). Though we celebrate our GREAT and AMAZING GOD, our health focus has gone by the wayside (temporarily). We would like to ask for your prayers this week and following (as blood work comes in).

We firmly believe our health is our responsibility, but know that this is one of the very last hurtles we face in our paperwork (prayerfully said) for our adoption of Jael.

Would you consider holding this up to God this week and next? My husband has been facing a lot lately and could use some serious prayer for his medical as we bring our Jael...God's Jael... home.

Tomorrow I am going to share another prayer request. One that is SO cool (for another adoptive family) involving a difficulty they have always had in their adoptive journey. If God wills...what a magnificent way to see God at work.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers. I seem to be asking for them a lot lately (smile).

"He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm." Matthew 8:26

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If you have a prayer request, I will be trying to list them at the end of just about EVERY blog. Just comment or email me and I will list them. If you have a private one, just let me know and I will hold it up to God in prayer, but not place it on our blog.

Please let me know any updates or how God answers. God is just so AMAZINGLY cool and a privilege to watch answer!!!

June's Immanent Adoption Prayer Requests:
*Please pray for our medical forms for China, that my husband's tests results are wonderful and that BOTH our medicals are acceptable for China.
*Please pray our dossier continues to come together flawlessly and quickly.
*Please pray that our immigration approval comes quickly and that everything proceeds to China correctly done and with speed we can't imagine.


Our Personal Prayer Requests

*For the waves at my husband's place of business to smooth and calm. For GOD to show him where he can bring GOD the most glory.

*That all paperwork may be quick and without flaw (in only a way the God can do) and both U.S. immigration approves us quickly and the Chinese government.

*For all "hiccups" to be banished and a hedge of protection be surrounding this journey.

*For our tax return and finances to fly that we may get started on our journey at a greater speed and that all finances come together with smoothness and speed. Even with the above blessing, we still need the tax return to come through. We have received partial, but are still waiting for the remainder.

*Please pray for our daughter across the world who faces each night alone, not knowing a family awaits her. Please pray that she feels GOD's presence, GOD's hedge of protection around her, that her heart is prepared and ready for family, and that Jesus fills her heart and helps her to be ready to attach to her family. Also for her biological family and their peace and knowledge of a God that loves them so very much.

*Please pray that GOD protects us from satan's attacks. When you follow GOD, satan always attacks. We have had constant life "storms", thus the verse above.

*Please pray for the drama surrounding a situation not directly effecting us or in our immediate family, but none the less...drama. Please pray for peace surrounding this situation.

*Most importantly, that GOD be brought glory and His will be done in all of this.

Prayers for Our Brothers and Sisters

If you have a prayer request, I will be trying to place them at the end of EVERY blog. Just comment or email me and I will list them. If you have a private one, just let me know and I will hold it up to GOD in prayer, but not place it on our blog.

*Please pray for Eden, a little blessing from Ethiopia, who has a life threatening disorder.

*Please pray for Carrington who just arrived in March from Eastern Europe. She came home at 11lbs and three years old. Update: She is home from the hospital now and doing SO much better, but could still use prayers!

*Please pray for little Selah, Lorraine's daughter, who has hydrocephalus and issues cropping up regarding this.

*Please pray for Judah, a little one from Ethiopia that is on a medical visa here in the United States. He has hydrocephalus and the doctors are evaluating him for treatment that is not available there. GOD is working miracles, can we pray for some more?

*Please pray for my friends Michelle and Amber who both have parents struggling with cancer. Michelle also has an Uncle fighting cancer as well.

*Please pray for Donna and her family as they are starting the adoption process at the same exact time we are and have their preliminary approval as well. It's her/their story coming up tomorrow.

*Rolando and Julia (Guatemala-It has been over five years.), AND Junior and Diamoh (Liberia) to be able to finally come home to their families and that these countries open to legitimate adoptions.

*Renae-For the continued transition of their sweet family. Their daughter joined their family this year and they are starting the process of another amazing journey to Ethiopia! They need their tax return as well to start this journey!

*Daniel (Liberia) and Jeremiah (Taiwan)- for their continued health issues. GOD's blessings and Hand on them and their families.

*My friend (unnamed, GOD knows)... foster son, his family, and all who will make or influence decisions on his behalf that GOD's will be done in every aspect of his life. Also, currently, for his serious health issues.

*For Eliz and their family as they bring home five beautiful blessings with Down Syndrome.

*Please pray for discernment and clarity for Gena and her family as they seek God's will about a future adoption. Also, please pray for their teen son to come to know CHRIST.

*Please pray for our friend whose daughter Kennedy is having seizures. Please pray that they cease and whatever is causing them never returns.

*Please pray for the Young family~That God would grow them to be the parents their son needs, that the remaining funds would be provided, that their adoption would proceed unhindered, and that their fears would be relieved.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

Nothing Cuter than Dancing Babies

With all the very serious things going on right now, our sweet blessings dancing can not help but make us smile. If you've seen The Cosby Show, you will probably get this.

Every time they see this episode, they start to boogie....

You have to watch it awhile to see the cutest part!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Here's the link to the original Cosby Show song they were watching...
"The Cosby Show~Anniversary"

Time-In ...Took Me Awhile~Adoption/Attachment

What is "time in"? It is used as a consequence for unwanted behaviors, just as "time out" is. With "time in" the child may be held by you, may sit near you, or many other variations.

I know you guys probably all got it, but I really didn't get it. It just didn't make a lot of parental sense to me. I don't know why it eventually clicked, but I finally understand "time in" vs. "time out". I don't think there is a perfect method for every child. Yet "time in" makes tremendous sense to me for many neglected and hurting children.

I knew "time in" was recommended by many and it was often what we were supposed to do, but.....

I thought I would share with you why it FINALLY makes sense to me. It took YEARS and I've been wanting to write this for a long time.

A neglected child resides in their own little world. They learn self sufficiency, self-stimulation, and live in a place that is all theirs. After enough neglect, a place all alone will be "normal" for them. A place that everyone leaves them alone will be exactly what they often seek.

When we have a neglected child that is acting out, often "time out" is EXACTLY what they want. They want to be left alone to live in their own world...a world that brings comfort. If for NO other reason (though there ARE other reasons) when we discipline many neglected adopted children with "time outs"...we are in all actuality, rewarding them. THIS IS WHAT THEY MAY WANT.

WOOOOO...this was an eye opener for me.

Think of a child's mentality. I misbehave and I get what I want. Hmmmmm.....

To break it down even more.
Naughty=Reward

So you have a child that feels they are getting a reward for acting out. When we give them a "time in" we are giving them what they DON'T WANT, but NEED. The result is a VERY mad child. Yep, they may be angry and resentful. They may hit, throw themselves around, and all together act up when in "time in".

Yet the first result is that they find out they do NOT get what they want when they act out (a good thing). The second, and the most important, is that they get what they need...touch, love, the reiteration that we will NOT push them away when they're naughty.

From a parent with a sensory issues child, I was told,"My child would calm down a ton quicker and be fine after a "time out". They were detached though. When I did a "time in" and had my child set next to me, they did NOT like it, but the end result is that our connection was not severed and we grew closer"

The result of a "time out" may be what we as parents crave at times (believe me, I get it)...peace, sweet peace...but "time in" may be more along the lines of what our children need.

I don't think there's only one way. I firmly believe every child is different and for some "time out" genuinely works better. I also think that many times we, as parents, don't try "time in" because it just goes against what seems right to us.

It goes against common sense...until we tear it apart and analyze it.

For those of you that got this concept a LONG time ago, thank you for bearing with me. It took me awhile, but I finally get it.

Moving back in and Ice Cream Soup

It may smell like BBQ and Lysol, but it's ours. After almost three weeks we have moved back in. It is cluttered, full of borrowed pillows and mix and match blankets...but we're here.

Little gremlins left a surprise for us while we were gone though. They left some ice cream soup and milk that looks like pudding.

satan must really not want Jael home....most recently the fire and now he's killed our refrigerator....

Yes, I cried, then had an urge for violence (wanted to kick the refrigerator for taking all the groceries we'd put into it a few hours ago), some grumblings (after all, my ice cream had melted), and finally..."REALLY?!!! SERIOUSLY?!!!"

Yet God always provides (and now we get to eat breakfast out :)).

"He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm." Matthew 8:26

Tomorrow, tomorrow, we're moving back in tomorrow...it's only a DAY AWAY!!!!!

(I would have my arms opened wide, spinning around "Sound of Music" style...but I'm too tired...smile)

Little Ahead of Myself~The Fire

So I got a little ahead of myself...smile. Those cleaning will not be done until next Friday. They even deodorize bomb our house the last day. Seriously...my house will probably smell cleaner and better than when we started. We still have to have the electrical looked at too before we move back.

It seems like there is constantly someone at our house anyway (so much to do)

Another week (said prayerfully) and then home...home sweet home (deep sigh).

What's Next?~The Fire

Yep, he went in and tried to rescue our things. He didn't take to heart that we don't value things (hee hee...can't help making jokes and being silly). This was one toy that brought many jokes to our household when we found it. Yep, if you don't recognize it, it's a Fireman Rescue Hero. Our real fireman are okay, so this is one we can laugh at.

*Please know, we take the reality of fire very seriously. We know what COULD have happened. One of the reasons we CAN joke is because all our children, our gems, are here and in our arms.

Seriously friends, we are not even slightly sad, just tired. Our house (Church, school, etc.) is full of jokes and puns. Our good friend (Yep Jimmy, you get the blame for this one) came up to us on Sunday and said, "I can't believe you guys! You had a BBQ and didn't invite me!" I think that's our absolute favorite so far...smile.

Many have asked what's next.

Our house is still not habitable. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks. We have tried to start the beginning stages of clean up. There is a thin layer of soot on everything. You can't even see it, but when you take a wipe to it...black. We have cleaned the living room up to where the babies can reach to the point that we can bring the babies in and have more cleaning days.

Yesterday I spent Itemizing. See that big stack of trash bags below? That's maybe half of what we need to itemize (???)...I think.



We have a company coming to pick up anything made of fabric tomorrow and the adjuster is coming today. Hopefully we can get couches, mattresses, vents, and floors done quickly. We constantly find black soot on some part of us.

For now we wait :).

I've posted a couple of more pictures of our craziness below. May your day be blessed!


Not feeling like taking a bath so much :).



Shower either???



Though none of the stuff has really made us sad, there are a few things that make us go, "Man, that's a bummer." This was one. This is the jacket we bought in Moscow for our little Max when we were bringing him home.



Gives a whole new meaning to "Hole in the Wall".

Update: The adjuster was a blessing. Cleaning crew may come tomorrow (they do rugs and furniture as well). We may be able to start sleeping in our own house as early as Monday. WOO HOO!!!

"He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm." Matthew 8:26

Eight Gems in My Heart, One Diamond that Doesn't Really Matter

Today is Mother's Day.

Our preacher quoted a study this morning that said, "If you do NOT have children, you average three months more of leisure time a year." My brother leaned over and whispered, "Kat, I think you have a deficit." I love my brother. Leisure time is over-rated anyway (kinda like sanity).

It's been an odd week. I'm not sure there is one that has made me appreciate motherhood more. I may have a house that smells like we've had a BBQ, but I have seven healthy blessings playing, bickering, and laughing in our close quarters right now. I have one little Chinese blessing one step closer to coming home (we have a finger print appointment). Seven of my "gems" are shining all around me.

This morning I realized I was minus a much more minor one. Apparently, we believe, when I was knocking around pulling everything I could out of the house during the fire...I knocked my wedding ring a little too hard. We realized that I am now minus a diamond.

Tears came for about five minutes...then I laughed. "Seriously?" I wanted to ask my arch nemesis. "You think a diamond is going to phase me?"

I have my "gems". I have the only ones that matter. This ring doesn't get another thought.

This Mother's Day I may be minus one diamond, but I have something worth more than a bigazillion (from the official Kat dictionary) times more...my family.

Happy Mother's Day to so many awesome moms that I know read this blog.

Hugs and Love (with a slight scent of BBQ) from our blog to yours!

The Fire

As i sit at my mom's computer I have this center of joy in my gut. I know that may sound weird with the week we've had, but God is so good to us. It could've been so much worse.

I have so much to say and I'm not exactly sure where to start.

Before I tell you Tuesday's story, I'd like to forcefully say, "Make sure your fire alarms work...please." Our house went from an everyday event of kicking back with our family, to smoke filled in about three minutes. The fire alarm was our only warning that something was wrong. We didn't smell or see anything until it went off and we went to look.

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This is how it began....

Tuesday was long. We had traveled all over the area, from the doctors to trying to get adoption paperwork submitted, notarized, and done. I was exhausted...so exhausted that I changed into my pajama's when I got home. The kids and I (minus my husband and oldest who went to get the car inspected) were curled up in the living room watching a Cosby Show DVD when the fire alarms went off. Honestly, it didn't really phase me, the fire alarm is REALLY sensitive. My immediate thought was that it was just malfunctioning...it wasn't.

Again, we didn't smell or see anything in the living room at that point.

Sarah peeked her head into the play area and sounded startled as she called my name. There was black smoke pouring out of all the vents in the rest of the house...all of them.

Since we were all together in the living room, I asked my oldest daughter to take all the littles to the front curb. I went to the phone as the smoke started to fill the room, as I pushed the dogs outside I dialed 911. Blessed by fact that my mom's van was parked out front and unlocked...my children climbed in. My daughter Anna sobbed as she asked about the animals. Our sweet Sarah, at only 14 years old, was brave and comforting to her younger siblings.

Side Note: The kids only real concern was the animals, not their stuff. We were so impressed with how they all handled themselves.

The smoke was flowing, but not to a "coughing" point yet. Yes, I know this wasn't brilliant. I went back, grabbed my daughters gerbil cage, two cats that I could reach, the diaper bag/purse of mine, and our adoption papers for the twins. I brought them out, but couldn't stay any longer. My throat burned and I had started coughing. I love the two cats that were still in the house, but it was not worth life.

My husband and son arrived and we watched as the fireman yelled that the smoke was too thick. They totally suited up. Smoke drenched the air around us and seeped out of every open window and door of the house as kind neighbors ushered us into their homes. I will be forever grateful to our neighbors...forever. We didn't know them that well, but that is one of the many blessings that came from this fire.

Eventually the fireman started taking off their masks and entering the house. The fire chief asked me to talk to the children. My heart sank. He said the way the fire was burning, we needed to ask the kids if someone was playing with a candle or some such. We have always drilled the kids about playing with fire, but we also know some of the less than great things we did as children.

When the firemen had initially entered the house, it was not passable without a mask. As they made their way to our bedroom, the smoke got even worse until they got to our closed closet door. The closet door is vital in showing God's protection of our family (more later).

The door was burning hot to the touch. When they opened the door, the flames were burning out due to lack of oxygen and had retreated to about three or four feet high...until they opened the door and then they topped most men's height. They said that if that closet door had not been shut, we would have most likely lost part or all of the house...or worse.

The fire had started to smolder due to lack of oxygen, thus wasn't spreading quickly until they opened the door.

In front of our neighbor's house I called two of our blessings outside and sat down on our neighbor's lawn with them. We talked and I casually (as not to scare them) talked about the situation. Finally I felt confident one of them hadn't had anything to do with it and sent him inside. That's when my sweetheart broke down. Though this story has changed and we don't know truthfully if this is what happened....all we can say is that it MAY have happened this way (see side note following explanation).

Our child said she found a birthday candle. With her sweet little body, she said she pulled up a step stool and scaled to great heights to reach the "birthday lighter". She was old enough to know how to work child proof locks, but that wasn't even what this is about. She said she wanted to play "Birthday". She said that the candle lit and she got scared and dropped it. Shutting the door didn't happen, only running out of the room did.

Why she may have gone to our closet (which she NEVER goes to)....

You see, if this is the way it happened, this is where God shows His mercy even more....
*My daughter usually has her long hair hanging everywhere about 95% of the time, but I had put it up in a ponytail. It could have easily caught fire in it's normal state.
*Our closet door was almost impossible to shut. Seriously...it always took my husband and I a couple of tries. Not only was it used to store a ton of stuff, but the door didn't really latch very well. Somehow this door was shut, preserving our house and possibly life. How did a little girl, only 40lbs, get this door to shut? She said firmly that she did not shut it.We firmly believe God intervened.

My heart sank as my little one told me this story. She had been out of my sight for only five minutes (I thought to go to the bathroom) Yet, she was okay. The thought of what could have happened. THAT is what makes me cry, not losing things.

Side Note: Our little one has quite a imagination. About a month ago,our oldest couldn't find his money. It wasn't in his wallet. We asked the other children if they had seen it. Our little girl confessed to taking it. About an hour trying to figure out where she put it, our oldest remembered removing it and putting it somewhere else (where it still remained). She confessed, but didn't do it. Also, through a miscommunication, we thought the fire had originated in our son's closet. Our little one initially confessed to the birthday incident in our son's closet and didn't change it until she heard where the fire originated. We just don't know exactly what happened. Our sweetness is always joy and light, but still blurs the line between reality and her joyous imagination.

As I talked to two of our neighbors wives and told the Fire Marshall (the kids were inside our neighbors house) I started crying for the first time. Tears came, not because of the decision our little one made, but because God preserved our children's lives.

I need to say that the Fire Marshall was a gift from God. He was a comfort and a blessing and I wish every city had a man like this.

It was 8:00pm before we were given the okay to go inside. Our friend pulled up and told us she just couldn't stay home and make calls anymore...she had to be there. She watched the kids as we went inside and pulled out smoke scented clothes to wash over the next couple of days. More friends drove up. At about 9:30pm we made a 30 minute run to buy the necessities that we would need for the next 48 hours (pj's for each child, kennels for the animals, a set of clothing and under things for the kids, etc.).

Finally we landed at my mom's house around the corner. Here we stay. Our Master Bedroom walk-in closet is history, holes in the ceiling and walls. Our master bathroom is also mostly gone. Our house is filled with a nauseating smoke scent. Our door that leads into the garage is busted open. Our bedroom paint looks like it melted (though the room is remarkably okay).

We are just beginning to recognize and itemize things lost. Almost all our home videos, birth videos, adoption videos, photo albums, wedding dress, military uniform with all the metals, backpacks, clothes, shoes, etc.

STUFF...that's all it is...STUFF

We are not sad. We have not been sad for this stuff. You see, we are all eternal creatures and this stuff is not eternal. It's just stuff. Though the firemen weren't sure the two hiding cats would survive with the intense smoke, we have now found both of them and they are with us.

On the way to Target my oldest teen son led a song in praise of our God. Because God is at work here.

There is something that satan is seeing here and now that he must not like. We can't attribute God's powers to satan and say that satan can see the future, but there's something happening that's good...WAY good. It started when we started the adoption of Jael.

We just feel happy to know that we're ticking satan off.

Man, we love God...seriously. There are so many things that God is bringing out of this. Someday we may share so much more, but for now. We will praise God for what He has done through this fire. We will praise Him for His mercy on our family.

It is a storm, a cleansing, change bringing, sprouts growing after the rains...storm.

May God grow you through the storms my friends. If you don't know him, email me. I would love to share with you about God...the only God. He loves you far more than anyone on this earth ever could.

So, if I can "light a fire" under you, know that today is no guarantee...save those closest to you...share Jesus.

"He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm." Matthew 8:26

Fire at Our House

We are all good, just shook up. We lost our bathroom, closet, door to the garage and misc. All animals look to be fine as well (and we have a lot).

Could use prayers.

"Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell your storm how big your God is."