Happy Thanksgiving

9:30 yesterday morning we got word that our dates are finally confirmed and it was time to make all the necessary arrangements.  So, we spent the majority of the day talking to our travel agent and booking all of our needed flights, motel rooms, shuttles, etc. in China.

Hard to believe that just TWO weeks from today Marc and the boys will be boarding a plane to China.  We are, as you can imagine, out of our minds excited.

Feeling so THANKFUL for so many things this morning....but wanted to say an extra thanks to those of you who have been praying for this latest adoption journey of ours and especially for Abby. I am soooo grateful for you!

Last week I found this quote by Ann Voscamp and it so resonated with me and has been CLOSE to my heart ever since.

  "We give thanks to God not because of how we feel but because of who HE is."

Even though I AM feeling thankful this morning, I am VERY aware that I am not always "feeling" this way.  And yet, I should, and I WANT to, always BE thankful because our Mighty GOD is sooo sooo sooo worthy of our praise and thanksgiving everyday!  May we more and more see up and beyond our circumstances to the One who reigns forever!  Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving friends.

TA

Alas, Travel Approval from China has come.
We won't know till tomorrow or Wednesday when we will travel.
But, it's coming.
So, what did I do this evening? 
Head out and bought my baby girl some underwear, socks, and some fabric for a quilt.
You know, the basics.
She may be my 6th kid, but she'll be the first with a quilt from momma!

His first kiss.

Well, I continue to be in awe over the transformation with Levi in our hearts and in our home.  I seriously adore that guy.  Life with Levi is not easy, but it is awesome!  The work that the Lord has done with all things Levi in the last year, the way God has united our family, the work that He has done in our hearts, the way He has continued to grow our faith and our trust in Him.....well, it's just simply mind blowing and life changing.  God's plans are INCREDIBLE.  And to think...that I almost missed out on this journey...because I was almost too afraid to follow the Author of life.  I am the one who was rescued.  Adoption....oh, adoption.  God, you are GOOD!

Anyway.....
yesterday Miss. Mei ran up to me in the kitchen laughing her head off announcing, "Mom, Levi is in love!  Mom, he is going to get married!  He's in love!"  Barely able to understand her, I got down at her level and asked what in the world she was talking about.  Continuing to laugh, she told me that Levi had been kissing her baby doll.  I told her I didn't believe her and that she was being very silly, because Levi hasn't yet kissed anyone.  She insisted.  And so, she led me back to her room and there was Levi holding her baby doll.  She said, "Levi, show mom how you kiss the doll!"  And then, my sweet Levi gave that little baby doll a kiss on the forehead and giggled, then another kiss, another giggle, and another kiss.  I got down and said, "Levi, can you kiss me?"  And he leaned over and pressed his lips against mine....and then giggled.

We can't get him to kiss again.  But, I must say, that was a great moment.  What is that quote about life not being measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away?  Indeed.


A friend shared this blog post with me:  http://sheepdogger.blogspot.ca/2013/08/indispensable.html
And, I have to say, it is my most favorite blog post of all time.  Every time I read it, I laugh and cry the whole way through.  I would love for you to read it. 

God is sooo sooo sooo good!

National Adoption Month!!!!

If you listen to Christian radio, listen to podcasts of sermons, or read Christian magazines, no doubt you have heard that NOVEMBER is National Adoption Month!  Whoop whoop!   A month where the Christian community joins together to raise awareness of the millions and millions of orphans around the world and encourages the church body to care for those orphans through foster care, adoption, and orphan care.

The cause of orphans in our world is especially important to me these days because, as you may not know, the "issue" is under great attack.  WORLD magazine had a great article about the assault this month:  "International adoption is under assault.  In 2013 a rash of negative stories with sensational titles...have made their way into print."  The article reports that in 2004, over 22,000 children were adopted internationally, and in 2012, that number dropped to 8,000.  argh.  Here is the link to the article:  http://www.worldmag.com/2013/11/adoption_under_fire

Somehow, we came upon a podcast of a sermon that was delivered a few weeks ago on "Orphan Sunday" at a church in Houston.  I loved the way the pastor presented this topic.  LOVED IT.  If you have an extra 30 minutes you could spare, I highly recommend listening to this pastor's sermon, "God's deep love for orphans"...and I hope you are inspired by the last few minutes of what one of the women leader's in the church shares...... https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bayou-city-fellowship-sermon/id471812715

Here is a recent great blog post by an adoptive momma that discusses the challenges and awesomeness that comes with adoption:
http://nihaoyall.com/2013/11/theres-no-such-thing-as-an-easy-adoption.html
I would say ditto to everything she writes about adoption.

And last but not least, I want to brag about what some of our good friends left do to last week.....they moved their family of 6 to the Ukraine to care for special needs orphans there!!!!!!  Quit their jobs and left all the comfort of family and friends to boldly follow the LORD to love on the least of these in the Ukraine!  Hello!  SUCH a picture of what the Lord wants all of us to do:  leave behind everything and follow Him boldly to where He is leading.  Woooo hooo!  THAT is the great adventure!. http://wideawakefamily.com/

Happy National Adoption month to you!  How is God calling you to care for an orphan, one of his precious precious children?

Article 5

Article 5: That nice little piece of paper that the US Consulate in China issues saying that they are FINALLY ready to issue a visa for my sweet little baby girl to come home.  They have all that is needed.  It is time.  We got that piece of paper TODAY!!!!!  Whoop whoop!

Only one little piece of paper remaining:  Travel Approval.  That will be from China's government saying, "Okay, Skipper family, come get your beautiful little daughter. Now."

We are preparing for a departure of December 5th.  However, that date is still very tentative.  Our travel approval could be delayed.  Our flights coming home could be too expensive or too full due to it being just a few days before Christmas....etc. etc. 

Ah, God knows.  And He is so soo sooooo good!

good bye, October

October is always the busiest month of the year.  Always.

And this October did not disappoint.

A wedding, birthdays galore, a mini family vacation, a serious medical treatment, we gave our family dog away, pumpkin patch, one of us had a little medical crisis resulting in a 5 day hospital stay.....along with all of the normal "stuff".....oh, October....

As I have thought about blogging throughout the month, through all of October's adventures, my favorite song would always come to mind.  And so, at last, I will just write some of the lyrics to my most very favorite song, In Christ Alone.  Through all of our fun and adventures this month, He was sovereign and He was victorious.  Somehow, it always all comes back to Him.  He is soo soo soo good.  I want to live for Christ alone.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

And as He stands in victory
Sins curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand

I will stand, I will stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground, all other ground
Is sinking sand, is sinking sand
So I stand

............

"What seemed like the obstacles were actually the paths."  ~Bob Goff 

"Stillness with God is always a matter of focus, not of circumstances." ~Ann Voscamp