Growth...of our family...in our walk with Christ...in all things to worship HIM!

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Resurrection Day!!!

Happy Resurrection Sunday ya'll!!  





Tales of the Dentist...

Our God is soooo very faithful!

Our sweet boy is doing so very well.  
He has overcome so many things over the past two months!!
At the same time, he has some real fears.  

One of those fears is of the dentist.  
Rumor has it that the last time he went to a dentist in the Philippines, 
he fled when he saw the needle for Novocain.
I wasn't quite sure what to say when he told me about that incident.  
I have had my share of fear of the dentist but I would have never considered running:)

We prayed much, and encouraged as best we could...
but sweet boy struggled so very much to go to the dentist for the first time.
I reassured him that it was just for a cleaning and for the dentist to look at his teeth. 
No needles, and no extractions!!!!!
He was terrified for days and I started wondering if I was going to be able to get him in that chair!!

On the morning of his first dentist appointment he kept telling me OH NO...I DON'T WANT TO GO.  
We did a devotion that morning on fear.
I had hoped to talk about how we are all human, and humans naturally have fears 
that Christ can take away. 

I started out...how many of you are humans.
The oldest quickly raised her hand...thought better of it and said...NO, I am an alien!
The next daughter said...I am a horse!
Our son says...HUMAN...what human (meaning what is a human)??
This was not going so well!!  
Ok, scratch that...
let's look up some truth in the good book:)

I asked the kids to find John 4:18
Our oldest found it quickly, made a face and said are you sure mama.  
I said of course I am sure...read it.
She shrugged her shoulders and read...
"The fact is, you have had five husbands,
and the man you now have is not your husband"!!??!!

WHAT!!!!
scratch that!!!
In reality I was looking for FIRST John 4:18
"There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear..."

Then our precious boy, when he realized I had asked for the wrong verse said,
"Oh no, oh no Mommy!!!  I highlight it!!"  
This my friends is where we all lost it.  
We laughed so hard it hurt.  

And before we knew it, our time was up, and we needed to leave for the dentist.  
We prayed on the way, listened to worship music, and talked.
My son looked like he wanted to dissolve into the seat.  
When we arrived he breathed several times and hesitated to get out of the car.  
Oh how I prayed and oh how my heavenly father is soo very gracious to me.

Before I knew it, Aaron was in the chair and being loved on by such a special gal!  
This same gal got me through several stressful dentist visits myself over the year 
by sharing her journey to adopting her sweet treasure.  
She has been following our journey and looked forward to meeting our son!!
Thank you friend for your fabulous care and helping Aaron make it through the FIRST visit.  

Truth is, Aaron has quite a bit that needs to be done, 
so we really had to pray hard, and face those fears.  
Aaron was so very upset every day and night before the first appointment. 
I didn't want to wait too long to schedule the first "work" visit, 
because the anxiety of it all could just be worse than the actually visit.

We scheduled an appointment for the following week to remove two teeth, do a few fillings, and sealant on the one side of his mouth.   
When Aaron learned he needed to have teeth pulled, panic was immediate.  
He went home and in the course of two hours found a way to get one of the teeth out on his own!!! 
I was so heartbroken to explain that even if he got both teeth out...he was still going to need a shot for the fillings.  

But on that day...
Our heavenly father met my sweet boy once again.  
We arrived early,
and this sweet Filipina met us at the door!!!
Even though she didn't speak a lick of Tagalog...it helped to put him at ease!!

She showed Aaron the ex-ray of his mouth.

Talked to him about all the instruments and what she would do

 Showed him where they would work

and even drew a picture of what the baby tooth that needed to come out 
looked like on top of the adult tooth

The dentist also took much time with him and explained what she would do

Success!!!!!  He made it through and got treasures to take home:)

We need to return again to have work done on the other side of his mouth.  
But for today...
this Mama is so very thankful for God's faithfulness!!!!!

HE sustained my son
HE gave the support we needed
HE comforted this Mama as I watched my son work through his fear
HE IS FAITHFUL!!!



Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Slacker

Hello, my name is Joy, and I am a slacker!!!

Hee, hee
I have been busy ya'll.  

It has been brought to my attention AGAIN 
by my lovely sister
That I have been keeping folks in bloggy land hanging for quite some time.  

The truth is...we are great, and we are busy!!

 I have been trying to keep these jokers moving along in school 
so we can close up the year in a timely manner.  
(Yep, this Mama wants to be finished as much as the kiddos!!)

And we have been working to assess where my third joker is on the academic front. 
( I want to pause here to express my amazement at how quickly he has improved 
in his ability to speak and understand the English language!!) 

There have been...

first haircuts

First bike

First hoops

And first dentist appointment

First field trip - Civil War battle ground

First crazy Costco run:)

And first Sweet Frog frozen yogurt

He has played much

And has been kissed much:)

We have taken dress up to a whole new level:)

But the bonding is priceless!!

And we have also tried riding WITHOUT Ate (big sister) on the horse!!

This was our best attempt at getting a family photo to send to ICAB this month
(yea!!  We are all looking at the camera and almost look happy:):)

Our oldest has been getting her worship groove on in preparation 
for the fine arts competition coming up next month.  

And our animal whisperer has been loving on her beloved pooch as well as all the neighborhood dogs, stable horses, cats, and dogs.  

 Between school, church activities, and appointments...
this Mama is strivin' to get myself to sleep before the next day starts.  

But I love this season God has us in!!!  
I wouldn't have it ANY OTHER WAY!!!







Thursday, March 7, 2013

Being Real

There are so many things dancing in my head these days!!

I have so very much to share
but struggle with how best to express my heart in this tremendous leg of our family journey.

These last weeks have been filled with a mixture of laughter and grief,
Tagalog and English, joys and sorrows, love...and more love. 

We have belly laughed, shed tears, held each other close, and tested the limits.  

Some view adoption as scary, some see it as redemptive, others have a romantic airport view.
Quite frankly...it is all these things...
and so much more!!

Adoption is powerful, exhausting, overwhelmingly joyous, and terribly painful.  
Through it, Christ draws out the brokenness in each of us.
And if we allow HIM, he heals hearts, removes our selfishness, 
and makes something beautiful...Family.

We went into our older child adoption with eyes wide open,
and to be honest, 
at times,
with fear and trembling:)

We completed training, read the books, and networked with everyone and their brother.  
But in both of our adoptions...
nothing could have prepared me for the extreme, unexplainable love that has penetrated my heart for children that I have not birthed.  I realize it is difficult to understand, but God has given us an equal, tremendous love for each of our children regardless of the time they have been in our family.  
One has been in our family for over 16 years, another for the past 8 years, and the most recent...
30 days.  We love them each...deeply....unconditionally!!

It is so important for you to understand the love aspect... 
because that is also what causes our hurt:)

Because we love, it hurts to watch our children experience grief.

Both of our middles came to us with a past, with experiences, leaving much behind.   

And for this, there is hurt.
I want so very much to be able to sweep them up in my arms, 
reassure them that family is forever by hugging and kissing them.  

But often, children that have experienced loss as mine have,
are slow to trust...
confused by conflicting emotions.  
Wanting love, but are also terrified of it.  
If they love me, then they must be disloyal to another that has cared for them and loved them. 
Or so they think.

They may be hurt or scared, but what is shown on the outside at times is anger.   

Oh how it hurts to watch the times they flounder in that place.  
I wait with open arms ready to help them through their trial.

And I am reminded of my heavenly father, who has waited so many times for me
while in my floundering place trying to escape my difficulties my own way, on my own terms.  

He offers peace, comfort, and the best path out of the trial, 
just as I long to offer wisdom and comfort to my hurting children.

Some have asked if I would have liked to adopt my children as infants instead.
I can tell you with all honesty that my answer is NO!
God has hand picked our children and brought them each to our family!!
Each of their experiences, good and bad,
have made them the fabulous young men and women they are today!
They came to our family and our hearts when HE saw fit!!

My prayer is that I will be the mother God intended for my children...
that HE would equip me, and love our children through me.

May I be like HIM
unwavering in my love
unwavering in gentleness
unwavering in patience.

For now, as we walk this new leg of our journey together...
I rejoice for laughter,
I rejoice for the bellowing of joyful song coming from the shower,
I rejoice in the open display of love between a daddy and his children,
I rejoice as my children bond closer each day,
I rejoice as a certain little boy has come to me giggling 6 nights in a row 
looking for lotion and a massage,
I rejoice that the words I love you mommy are coming more freely,
I rejoice in dancing eyes,
I rejoice in random dress-up moments, 
I rejoice in stories of a time gone by...

In this season I REJOICE because God is building a family...and that my friends is PRICELESS!!

First time on a horse with Ate (big sister) Mélika

Taking his first hostage:) yep they actually stuck to his head!!!

First mule ride at the stables

First snow

He is not so sure but sweet Kylee is in her glory!!

First Valentines Day dinner

Kylee's first REAL archery lesson

First time someone else actually had the camera/phone and took a photo of us:)

First dress up session with the sisters...
spiked hair and bandana is the only model worthy outfit for this boy:)