I found this on Growing in Wisdom and Stature's blog and thought I would try it.

"Your are to rejoice before the LORD your God
in everything you put your hand to." (Deut. 12:18)

~ Sonya ~

Posted in Day To Day Musings

A lesson learned...double check to make sure you have your bowl pushed in all the way on your grain grinder before leaving the kitchen to do other chores...it could get bad.

"Your are to rejoice before the LORD your God
in everything you put your hand to." (Deut. 12:18)

~ Sonya ~

Posted in Day To Day Musings

Dylan loves his long hair. I don't know whether it is because it fits the "guitar playing dude" that he is, or that he is hanging on to his hair as long as he can because he fears his Dad's fate...baldness. Either way, he really likes his long red hair. However, me...not so much. I like his hair neatly short so I can see those beautiful blue eyes. However, he is 16 and it is his hair and I try to respect his choices.  So I smiled and kept my mouth closed (well most of the time.) My only rule is that it must be clean and neat. However, as a sweet Mother's Day gift my precious son sacrificed his beloved long red hair. Part of me was sad because he changed something he loved for me...and then part of me was so touched because he loved me that much and made that sacrifice. Of course when I came around the corner and saw him for the first time after his haircut I cried. It was a precious gift, but like he says...it grows back. 

Before and After                                                                                                                                                                         

"Your are to rejoice before the LORD your God
in everything you put your hand to." (Deut. 12:18)

~ Sonya ~

Posted in Day To Day Musings

Wow did we have a doozy of a storm yesterday! We had been working outside at the nursing home on Dylan's Eagle Scout project most of the day (more about that in a later post.)  When we heard rain start we were just hot and sticky enough to say we were going to go outside and play in the rain. I had no sooner put my hand on the door to head out when we heard "tinkling". We looked out to find it HAILING!   It is June, about 90 degrees outside and there is ice falling from the sky!  Amazing!  We are so thankful we weren't already outside when the hail started...it might have made for a headache!  My poor purple petunia might not make it. However, I think my pitiful green, flowerless pots in the backgound will survive just fine though.

"Your are to rejoice before the LORD your God
in everything you put your hand to." (Deut. 12:18)

~ Sonya ~

Posted in Adoption Happenings

Well yes, we are still alive and kicking.

When life isn't going the best, instead of reaching out to friends and family, I do the opposite and withdraw. That is what I have done for a big part of the last few months. Not to have a pity party, but it appears I have too much pride and think I can handle it...me and God. And yes, God can handle anything. Nothing that has happened in my life has caught him by surprise. However, I am learning (ever so slowly) that He has created us to live in fellowship with each other, to need each other.  I love helping, I just hate asking for help. (Pride, yuck!)

So here's an update on the last 7 months or so.  Last October, after over 16 years with the same company, my dear hubby lost his job.  This sent us for a bit of a spin. We trust God and know it is ultimately HE who provides for us, yet in the flesh we saw so much loss. He had so much vested in that company and to see it gone in one day was a little difficult. However, God was so gracious. Kurt got a call then very next day and was offered a temporary job (which he STILL has.)  It has no benefits, only pays a fraction of what he was making, and is a temporary contract...but God is providing. Praise Him!  DH got a second job to supplement and provide insurance. Though this job is only part-time, it has great insurance....so we thought. They have denied coverage for Zack twice due to his mental handicap. We are continuing to appeal. So my hard-working dear husband rises at 5:15 works a full time job in a hot warehouse, then heads to his second job in another hot warehouse. He arrives home about 11:00 pm. How blessed I am that God gave me such a hard-working man!

With the loss of Kurt's job we saw our dreams of bringing Michael and Moses home from Liberia slightly dimming. Immigration will not let you bring children into the country unless you make a minimum amount and can provide health insurance for them. Since dh getting a second job, we can now do that. However, the agency we were with took our money and did absolutely nothing on our adoption in a year and a half. Now Liberia has a moratorium on new adoptions. And every day our boys get older. The agency has now dropped us and we are working independently with a social worker in Liberia.  

We are walking a fine line. We believe with all our heart that God can do a miracle and make it possible for us to bring our boys home. Yet with everything we (and they) have gone through, we are preparing our hearts for the possibility that they may not come home. Somehow that feels like a lack of faith. Yet, my heart is preparing itself becaue we have had so many let-downs and broken promises. We have gotten to know these boys over the last year and a half and I adore them. In my heart they are mine. However, I have to be ok with whatever God does. I have to trust in His sovereignty. He knows what is best for everyone and He loves Michael and Moses more that I can even imagine. Yet, we will continue to pray for that miracle. 

Zack is doing fairly well. We have seen a little regression with all the stress going on and him not seeing his Daddy as much. He has been working at a local department store part time since last November. He puts up stock and generally helps with whatever they need. He enjoys this job and we are so thankful for this opportunity for him.

Dylan is doing very well. He is begins his Eagle project in a few weeks. He is building raised flower beds around the courtyard of a local nursing home. This will enable the residents to work in the flower gardens as many of them enjoy doing. He is entering the 11th grade this fall. I can't believe my baby has grown up so fast. He is turning into such a fine young man. He loves the Lord and his family. It is such a joy to watch him walk out his own relationship with Christ. I am so blessed to be his mom.    

Ok...that's the last few months in "Cliff Notes" form.  I can't guarantee the next post will be happen any faster than this one...but stranger things have happened. 

"Your are to rejoice before the LORD your God
in everything you put your hand to." (Deut. 12:18)

~ Sonya ~