tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50686069817417486922024-03-13T11:08:09.403-07:00Under His Wings We find RefugeCalled to be a family of 5. This is the story of our adoption journey and of God's faithfulness.Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-89751160335619515462014-01-10T08:56:00.001-08:002020-03-03T07:58:34.516-08:00A chapter ends but the story continues<style>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just days after the Lord stirred in my heart and called our family to adopt
I knew that he was also calling us to walk this journey <i>publicly. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When I began this blog my primary goal was to share with our families and
close friends <i>why </i>were were adopting. I also wanted a place to
journal the details of our journey to one day share them with our baby
girl. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> That was it- <i>simple.</i> A place to share God's story of our
Ruthie's adoption. <i> </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Oh, but it became so much more.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our blog was<i><b> therapy</b></i>- I had to <b><i>process and face my feelings</i></b> in
order to communicate them. Both the good
and the bad- the exciting and the <i>very
ugly</i> were all there for the world to see. The beautiful
thing is that sharing these details and emotions here <i>drove me to the Lord and his Scriptures</i>. You see I never wanted to leave you, the
reader, discouraged. So I would dive
into God’s Word to find hope <i>“for you” </i>before I would write a post<i>…</i> all the while I was actually finding
the HOPE for myself! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our blog <b><i>brought us great encouragement</i>-</b> from the comments left here to
those that were sent to us via text or email or facebook we were blown away by
the love and support we received. Some
of the greatest encouragements I experienced were kind words and financial support from
friends from High School. This touched my heart profoundly. You see, in
High School my faith was <i>very private.</i><i> </i>
Very few people knew I loved the Lord back then and I have often
regretted that… but thanks to this little blog I have been able to share <i>my
love for Christ </i>and of <b>His GREAT love for me!
</b>I am so grateful for the chance to reconnect with these friends and for
the opportunity to encourage each other with the HOPE that we share!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our blog also <b>helped<i> </i>us<i>
successfully fundraise</i></b><i> </i>in
ways we never dreamed possible- We launched RuthieB Photography, sold “Hope”
and “Psalm 91:4” bands, we solicited items for sale and promoted our yardsale,
we sold customized letters, we sponsored puzzle pieces and sold t-shirts. The Lord blessed these efforts abundantly!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And finally, our blog gave us a place to <b><i>share our great joy when in God’s
perfect timing we became a family of 5! </i></b>God called us to be a family of
5 through adoption and he was faithful…</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Faithful to protect our family and
our baby girl during our journey.</b></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“He will cover you with his feathers and shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and
protection” Psalm 91:4</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Faithful to direct our steps.</b></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text" style="font-size: small;">“And
though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction,
yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your
Teacher.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span class="text">And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the
way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:20-21</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Faithful to provide all that we
needed.</b></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="woj" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“Look
at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and
yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Matthew 6:26</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Faithful to comfort us in pain.</b></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” -Psalm
34:18</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Faithful to bring to complete the
journey he began.</b></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“He has made everything beautiful in its time” Ecclesiastes 3:11</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He has indeed made everything beautiful in its time and we are forever
changed. </span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">To mark the completion of the <i>“bringing
Ruthie home”</i> chapter of the story of our family I have decided to end this
blog. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And with great joy and eager anticipation I am happy to report that I plan
to begin a new blog! I have<i> no idea</i> what
the Lord plans for this new little outlet for me but I’m excited to find
out! I'm still a bit "under construction" but I hope you will visit me at my<b><span style="color: #741b47;"> new Blog </span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mom of 3 Fergusons </b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> </b>at </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://momof3fergusons.blogspot.com/">http://Momof3Fergusons.blogspot.com</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://fivefergusons.blogspot.com/"></a></span></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thank you again for reading, encouraging and praying for us! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">With great love and gratitude,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Niles, Maria, Turner, Calvin and Ruthie</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rZ4jfbVJlH4/Us8TlTfdOZI/AAAAAAAAIfk/OgYTRKcva8M/s1600/FergusonChristmas2013-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rZ4jfbVJlH4/Us8TlTfdOZI/AAAAAAAAIfk/OgYTRKcva8M/s1600/FergusonChristmas2013-7.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">PS- I do not plan to delete this blog. I pray that it can continue to be an encouragement to those considering or walking the adoption journey or those simply waiting on the Lord. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To God be all glory and honor!</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-58890101437827801522013-11-08T11:50:00.000-08:002020-03-03T07:58:13.724-08:00Happy half-birthday, baby girl!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Today, Miss Ruthie FERGUSON celebrates another milestone...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today is her half birthday!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are crazy about this little lady!</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She's been changing and growing so much these last weeks... </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are a few of her favorite things:</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She loves dancing with her daddy while Mommy makes dinner.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She loves when her brothers talk to her- <i>they always make her laugh!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She likes trying new foods- today she even ate quinoa for the first time and liked it! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's sitting like a big girl now and likes to play with her toes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She REALLY likes splashing in the tub.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She likes being pushed FAST in a shopping cart- it makes her squeal!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ruthie likes to play with Mommy's hair :).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She also loves to be outside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Am01lWFjpc4/Un090h4YvfI/AAAAAAAAIWM/8865-pRjf-c/s1600/Ruthie%2527sHalfBirthday.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="512" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Am01lWFjpc4/Un090h4YvfI/AAAAAAAAIWM/8865-pRjf-c/s640/Ruthie%2527sHalfBirthday.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Isn't she a beauty???</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are SO thankful that God brought her to our family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are now, blissfully, 5 Mariposas!</span></div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-44199594499766955472013-11-08T11:39:00.000-08:002013-11-08T11:39:46.515-08:00Forever A Family<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-prLSLkScZCs/UnlKMs4tsxI/AAAAAAAAIT8/z7waxV8t4bY/s1600/RuthieF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-prLSLkScZCs/UnlKMs4tsxI/AAAAAAAAIT8/z7waxV8t4bY/s640/RuthieF.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-70894815305224719472013-11-05T06:46:00.000-08:002020-03-03T07:57:45.915-08:00Daddy Speaks- Adoption is Real<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last Sunday was Orphan Sunday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As I mentioned in my last post, <i>o<span style="color: #333333; text-align: center;">n Orphan Sunday, Christians across the world stand for the orphan. We take the weekend to discuss and pray for ways to defend the fatherless…to care for the child that has no family…to visit orphans in their distress.</span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Niles was asked to share at our church what the Lord had been teaching him regarding adoption...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">{I was SO proud of him!}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Niles spoke about the "real" and legitimate effect <b>adoption </b>has on our lives as <i>believers in Christ </i>as well as it's effec<i>t on </i><b style="font-style: italic;">our family.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>In case you missed it, </b>you can listen to the audio from the 9:00 service <b><a href="http://eternalchurch.net/sermons/orphan-sunday-2013">HERE.</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We want to say <i>"Thank you" </i>to our church family for the opportunity to share what we have been learning. We pray that everyone would <span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">take some time this week to think about and
thank the Lord for their adoption in Christ. We also pray that you will a</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">sk the Lord how <b>YOU</b> could be used by him to minister to the least of
these.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></div>
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<br />Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-59379223190664284822013-10-30T05:37:00.000-07:002020-03-03T07:57:25.947-08:00Happy to Report Nothing<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hello friends! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks for stopping by to check on us :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Since my last post I am happy to report-</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> <i>nothing!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well,<i> nothing</i><b><i> out-of-left-field-crazy </i></b>at least.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>No unexpected phone calls.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>No last minute legal issues.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>No heart breaking news.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just a <i>plain, old, <b>happy life</b></i> as a family of <b>5!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are THRILLED to announce that Ruthie's adoption finalization hearing is scheduled for NEXT Wednesday, November 6th. Niles and I will "attend" the hearing in Florida via phone. The call should last about 15 minutes after which we will FINALLY become Ruthie's <i>forever family</i> and she will legally become a Ferguson.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>To God be all Honor, Glory and Praise!</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And to catch you up on the last few months here are some pictures of what we have been up to.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">In August</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">our Ruthie girl celebrated another milestone!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b05tCdMKiio/UnDwl3_VDfI/AAAAAAAAIRY/gvlhT_1xrA8/s1600/DSC_0116-001.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b05tCdMKiio/UnDwl3_VDfI/AAAAAAAAIRY/gvlhT_1xrA8/s640/DSC_0116-001.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We also went on an <i>end of summer </i>trip with friends to Discovery Place!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last week of August was full of milestones for big brother Turner! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">First he started Kindergarten.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5z5ZPngu1GY/UnDwnbN5j7I/AAAAAAAAIRw/5zdOhljc-50/s1600/2013-08-20.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5z5ZPngu1GY/UnDwnbN5j7I/AAAAAAAAIRw/5zdOhljc-50/s640/2013-08-20.jpg" width="384" /></a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then he had his 6th birthday!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In </span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">September </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">big brother Calvin (and best buddy William) began preschool!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And Ruthie turned 4 months old!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>October </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">has been full of fall festivals, baby milestones (she's sitting all by herself already!) and little family adventures... but I'll save those photos for my next post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Thanks again for checking on us! We are most grateful for your prayers and love.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>One more thing!</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This Sunday is <a href="http://orphansunday.org/" target="_blank">Orphan Sunday</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Orphan Sunday, Christians across the world stand for the orphan. We take the weekend to discuss and pray for ways to defend the fatherless…to care for the child that has no
family…to visit orphans in their distress. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am thrilled <i>(and incredibly proud) </i>to let you all know that, in observance of Orphan Sunday, Niles will be speaking at<a href="http://eternalchurch.net/" target="_blank"> our church</a> this Sunday. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We invite you to join us as we take a Sunday to meditate on <b>OUR adoption into God's family</b> through Christ as well as t<b>he "real" effect of adoption in our family. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We hope to see you there!</span></span><br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-54385747095276176792013-08-16T13:00:00.000-07:002020-03-03T07:56:15.080-08:00"She looks just like you!"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"Oh my goodness! She looks just like you!" </i>said the girl at the CVS counter the first time I ventured out with my baby in SC. I had been in FL for 17 days and was pretty tan. And Ruthie and I both have really dark hair... so I could <i>see</i> our <i><b>"family resemblance"</b></i> and it made me smile. Later when I started posting pictures of Ruthie and her brothers online friends would say <i>"she looks like Calvin!"</i> and <i>"she looks like she belongs!"</i>- all sweet and well intentioned compliments.</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And yet, they made me feel strange.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I began to wonder how I was <i>"supposed"</i> to respond to these remarks? Was I "<i>supposed</i>" to tell perfect strangers that she's adopted when they compliment us? Was it <i>"lying"</i> to let people believe she was biologically related to me? And I wondered too <i>how should I respond to friends that say she "looks like she belongs in our family"? </i>You see, I had prepared myself for 2 years to become the mother of a baby that did NOT look like me and assumed we would become a <i><a href="http://www.adoptionlearningpartners.org/catalog/courses/conspicuous-families.cfm" target="_blank">conspicuous family</a> </i>once our Ruthie joined our family.<i> </i>We took classes and did research to equip ourselves to handle the tough questions people might ask us regarding why our family did <i><b>not </b></i>look alike- <i>and now all of a sudden we did! </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It seems like a silly thing to worry about, <i>I know. </i> But as someone who was so publicly working to bring a baby home through <b>adoption</b> it felt like a <i>strange secret </i>sometimes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I prayed about these feelings of confusion and sought the wisdom of friends and the counsel of the online adoption community. As is always the case the Lord responded... </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I began to feel great peace knowing our Ruthie was <i>fearfully and wonderfully made </i>by her loving Father. I felt too that our adoption journey was exactly what it needed to be to prepare our family to bring her home- whether she was going to look like us or not. And I felt that He was whispering "be still" to my heart full of worry...</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I decided to <u>trust Him</u> and stop my worrying <i>for once :). </i></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I trust</b> that it is GOOD for me to enjoy my baby girl without constantly "championing" the cause of adoption. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I trust</b> that I have a lifetime ahead of me of opportunities to talk about adoption and the joy that it has brought to our family. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I trust</b> that He will not hide <i>His will</i> from me, so I can stop worrying about what I'm<i> "supposed" </i>to do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I trust</b> that <b>love makes a family,</b> not biology or looks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now when people tell me she looks like me- I simply smile and say <i>thanks!</i> </span><br />
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<br />Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-4361500784269835752013-07-29T20:20:00.003-07:002020-03-03T07:55:44.629-08:00God Changed the Mind of Pharaoh<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So there are two reasons why I haven't blogged in nearly a month...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One reason is probably pretty obvious...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keeping up with these 3 little treasures has taken up every second of every day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other reason isn't as cute... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The day after my <a href="http://cincomariposas.blogspot.com/2013/06/ruths-birthday.html" target="_blank">last post</a> we received a terrifying phone call from our social worker.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Just a couple weeks after finally coming home with our Ruthie,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>one day after our baby turned one month old </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>and just days before her baptism </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>we heard this news:</i></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Your adoption is being contested."</span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The beautiful dream we were just beginning to taste was suddenly yanked away... and we felt broken and helpless.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This helplessness eventually turned into a paralysis for me when it came to things like blogging, planning, even day-dreaming of the years to come. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was weak and afraid- just trying to put one foot in front of the other.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>But God..</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He didn't just leave me in this broken place. Slowly he began to show me what he promised the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He consistently gave me the grace I needed to make it through the day, one day at a time. His mercies were new every morning and slowly he began to show me<b> contentment in today-</b>surrendering my tomorrows to Him...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>(There's a lot more to share here- in time.)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God also provided us with great counsel and prayer warriors to support us. One of these great conselors was our home study social worker, Hollie. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I will never forget her response on a day that I called her in despair- she said "The same God that changed the heart of Pharaoh and parted the Red Sea is in control today"... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That soon became my consistent prayer ...</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Father, just as you changed the heart of Pharaoh, please change the heart of the man contesting our adoption but unlike Pharaoh let him come to know you as Savior...</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I said above there is a LOT more to share about the last month...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...the grace God gave us each day</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...the encouragements we received seemingly out of nowhere</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...the most specific prayer requests that God answered</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...the heroic actions of our birthmother (who was NOT the reason for the contest)...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">But today I just want you to share in our joy </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">so I will skip to the end of this chapter of our story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Today just before lunch I received a call again from our social worker- or so I thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Caller ID said:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Suzanne- Bond of Love agency</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">I answered- <i>"Hi this is Maria!"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">and I heard</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>"Hi Maria! It's "B" (our birthmom)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>then she said</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>"are you sitting down? I have good news for you again"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">So I obediently sat down and she said</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>"I got him to sign all the papers. Ruthie is officially yours"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It. Is. Over.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To God be all the glory and honor- the contest is over and we can now FINALLY move to finalize our adoption! In a matter of months, the baby girl that was <i>born of our hearts </i>on May 8th will officially become a Ferguson.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are floored by His great love for our little family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead of immediately calling Niles at work after hearing from "B" today, I decided to WAIT to surprise him with our incredible news when he got home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the boys and I made signs and got balloons...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Daddy arrived boys met him outside and made him close his eyes and walk in while Mommy stood shaking like a leaf trying to capture the moment...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Surprise!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please forgive the quality of the photographs (as I said, I was SHAKING like crazy!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think you get the idea :) Daddy was thrilled!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Today our family will raise an Ebeneezer to remind us what God has done. May He receive all glory, honor and praise.</span></span><br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-88059345448025573662013-06-08T12:28:00.001-07:002020-03-03T07:53:04.185-08:00Ruth's BIRTHday!<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you read the <a href="http://cincomariposas.blogspot.com/2013/05/6-days.html" target="_blank">post I wrote on May 7th</a> you saw my perfectly made plans for the preparation and arrival of my long awaited baby girl... as I reread those plans today I couldn't help but laugh at myself actually thinking things would go "according to plan"! When in the last year have thing gone just the way I expected?!?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That being said, there was one thing I COULD expect according to God's Word...</span></span><br />
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<span class="text Jer-29-11" id="en-ESV-19647" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>For I know the plans I have for you, declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, plans for welfare<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>and not for evil, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-19647B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11). </i>No matter what happened I could count on the fact God would work every bit of it out for our GOOD...</span></span><br />
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<span class="text Jer-29-11">Here is the story of our sweet Ruth's BIRTHday</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Wednesday, May 8th</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">8:15AM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Niles had just left for work and called me just to chat. He said that he really wished his "adoption leave" from work could start that day. He desired time at home, before all our travels began, to calmly prepare and have some time to just sit with the Lord and pray. We talked more and decided it would be best for him to finish out the week as we had planned- hoping to fit in some quite time before we left. We said our good-bye's and I went back to making the boys breakfast and planning my day. That morning my amazing small group had planned to help me deep-clean my house in preparation of our baby girl's arrival.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">8:25AM</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My phone rang and the caller ID read "Birth mom-B"! I held my breath, told the boys I'd be right back and I stepped outside to answer the phone. I said "hello" and "B" happily greeted me. I told her I had been thinking about her so much that morning. And she said "Well, the Lord must have had me on your mind because your baby girl will be born today." It took my brain what felt like hours to sort out what she said, then I responded<i> "Umm... seriously?"</i> She laughed at me and said "well, I wouldn't joke about that! Yes! She's coming today!" Then she filled me in on the details- s<i>he was admitted to the hospital the night before after several days of pretty strong (though inconsistent) contractions. Over night she was monitored and continued to contract. In the morning she was evaluated and the doctors decided to schedule her c-section for 5PM that day. </i>So I excitedly said "OK! Well I'm going to call Niles and we are going to find a way to get to FL in time!" I told her I'd call her later once our plans were set and that I couldn't wait to see her! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hung up and called Niles back. The conversation went something like this</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Hey honey. Umm... I need you to come home. "B" just called, she's in labor and they've moved her c-section to today at 5 PM." If I remember correctly his response was something like<b> "What?!?!" </b> So I repeated the news and told him to turn around and come home :).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After I hung up with him I came inside and told the boys that today was going to be Ruthie's birthday! They were so excited! Turner started jumping up and down. Then my mind started to go 100 mph... something like this:</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I need to call my mom and sister.</span></i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I need to take a shower.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Must eat breakfast.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We need 2 plane tickets.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I need to take a shower.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make plans for the boys.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is Ruthie's birthday!</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My bible study is on their way to help me clean now. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish packing.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shower, must shower before I meet my baby!</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I got a hold of my sister and she helped me unscramble my thoughts. We worked together to get my mom on the phone, she looked for flights. I called my mother in law- filled her in. She was on standby to watch the kiddos. I called my sweet friend Anna and let her know what was going on. Then I finally hopped in and out of the shower.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">9:00AM </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Niles arrives home and begins working on booking us a flight. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The beautiful women from my bible study arrive as previously planned to help me deep clean my house. They excitedly hug me and get to work like Cinderella's helpers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I get dressed and with Danielle's help and watchful eye I wrap up the packing that I thankfully began the day before! (side note- Danielle is a professional traveler and EXPERT packer! I couldn't have finished without her!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">11:00AM</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have our plans in place and we're on the move!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taken just before we left our house!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On our way to the airport!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We quickly unloaded at the airport and say sweet good-byes to our fellas. They were so excited that their sister was going to be born that day! We checked our bags and took our carry-ons and empty baby car seat through security in no time at all. When I was putting my shoes back on after our security check two sweet little old ladies came to ask me "Where is your baby?" referring to our empty car seat. And I excitedly told them "we are going to go get her! We are adopting a baby girl that will be born today at 5pm!" They were so kind and complimentary. A very sweet moment in the middle of a very surreal morning!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then we made our way to our gate where we attempted to eat the lunch that our expert packer, Danielle, graciously made for us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In what seemed like seconds it was time to get on our plane. We gate-checked the car seat (again we were asked "where's the baby?") and boarded the plane. We found our seats, second from the back of the plane and buckled up for take off.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Again, time seemed to go in fast forward and before we knew it we had landed and were unloading in Atlanta. We knew that our time to catch our connecting flight was limited so we rushed across the airport, on and off the tram and speedily made it to the gate. And they were already boarding!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Again we made our way onto the plane, this time ALL THE WAY in the back.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I won't say the flight was pleasant (it was SO loud!) nor will I say I was feeling well (stress headache and nervous butterflies make a great combination) but thankfully I can say the flight was brief. All of a sudden we were on the ground in Sarasota, just a 45 minute drive from our baby girl!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seconds after we landed my phone rang. It was our FL social worker, Ms. Suzanne. She said "did you get my message?" Which of course I had not. So then she said, "B's c-section was moved-up to 3:30." Not knowing in that moment what time it was I said "ok, we'll hurry!" Then I realized -WAIT! It's already 4:00! She's likely already born!" Ms. Suzanne hadn't heard from "B" since before surgery and didn't have any additional information so we said our good-bye's and hung up. In that moment I felt 2 very strong emotions- disappointment and relief. I was disappointed that <i>we'd missed it... "B" really wanted us there and we didn't make it. </i>But at the same moment I felt <i>relief. Relief that she was born and for the first time since 5:30 AM I could slow down for a second and catch my breath. PLUS- my baby was probably BORN already! That's an awesome feeling. </i></span></div>
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Next we went to get our bags and said <i>e-nee-me-nee-miney-mo</i> and picked a car rental place to rent a car. A few minutes later we loaded up our car, prayed together, plugged the hospital into our GPS and began the drive toward Peace River Hospital in Port Charlotte.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The 45 minute drive was beautiful and surreal. There were so many emotions we were both feeling it's hard to describe. The closer we were to the hospital the more aware I was of the fact that I was about to meet both "B" and my baby girl at the same time... We were less than 10 minutes away from the hospital when my phone rang again... it was "B". I quickly answered and asked how she was. She said she was good, that everything had gone well and that s<i>he was holding <b>my baby</b> in her arms. </i>My heart rate picked up to a solid 200 beats per minute and I told her we were almost to the hospital. She gave me her room number and told us to "come right in when you get here"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few minutes later we arrived. Again we sat and prayed in our car and asked the Lord to be with us. We walked in the front door of the hospital, up the elevator and straight to the maternity nurse's station. We let them know which room number we were there to visit and we asked a nurse to check and make sure it was ok for us to go in. One of the nurses went to check with "B" and the others, realizing who we were, excitedly congratulated us. Again, a VERY surreal moment. The first nurse came out of "B's" room and gave us the all clear to go in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Niles took these picture just before we entered the room (with our hearts in our throats!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I entered the room and immediately made eye contact with "B." I glanced at the baby in her arms but almost felt like I shouldn't look at her too long... my heart almost couldn't take it. I remember Ruthie's eyes were open and a little of her dark hair was peeking out from under her little hat. I asked "B" how she was feeling and how everything went. She said she was groggy but everything had gone well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then she said "Do you want to hold her?" I had only been in the room about 45 seconds and it was already time... I smiled, took off my coat and reached out to meet my daughter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I held her, I stared at her and exhaled for what seemed like the first time. She was perfect... beautiful...content. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Niles and I talked with "B" and her mom for at least half an hour. We talked about her delivery, about the nursing staff, about her grandfather that was ill and at another hospital... <i>normal stuff! </i> It was so surreal! I felt like I had countless other times visiting friends with new babies at the hospital- conversation was so natural, the room was so peaceful. "B" had mentioned to me before that she wanted to spend a little time with the baby after delivery before we went to our room. So at some point in our conversation I asked her "do you want to hold her again?" And she said, "No. I just need to see you with her." After a little while one of the nurses came in and "B" asked if our room was ready. The nurse said yes and that we could leave any time we wanted. "B" said we were welcome to stay but that she had already spent time with her and felt we could go whenever we were ready. So then Niles gave me the small gift box we brought for her and I walked over to the side of the bed again to give her our gift. It was a locket with her favorite flower, a daisy, on the front. Inside was the Psalm we have clung to for the last 2 years,</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are you armor and protection."</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She smiled and thanked us. I hugged her and prepared to say good-bye. Then another nurse came in to check the baby. When she was done I told her we were ready to go, but Niles wanted to pray first. So I handed the baby to "B" and held her hand. Then Niles prayed over the baby, "B" and her mom and it was an incredibly beautiful time. Then "B" and her mom gave the baby a final kiss and snuggles and we put her back in her bassinet. We said goodbye and walked out the room, down a LONG hallway to our new room...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As soon as I was in the hall the tears came... my heart broke for <i>my friend</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She just made the most beautiful and difficult sacrifice for this precious baby girl and it broke my heart. And in the same moment I was walking toward "our room" with "our baby"... such a tornado of emotions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once we settled into our room we called the boys and they were FINALLY able to see their baby sister! They couldn't have been more excited!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I called my sister and showed her her "middle-name-sake" and of course we both cried :).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the calls, we met the pediatrician, met our nurse (and her nursing students), got some pizza for dinner and settled in for our first night!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May 8, 2013 was one of the most surreal and beautiful days of my entire life. I am so grateful that the Lord was so near to us the entire day. He sustained us and worked every, single detail out beautifully. We are so grateful for the prayers of God's people for protection, for travel mercies and for peace.</span></div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-80221726693876564772013-06-07T12:03:00.002-07:002020-03-03T07:51:03.207-08:00Finally a Family of 5!<div>
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Our eagerly anticipated and long awaited baby girl arrived- <i>ALMOST A MONTH AGO!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone, I am over the moon to introduce to you our sweet <i>Ruthie.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ruth Beatrice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She was born, Wednesday, May 8th at 3:56 PM. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She weighed 7 lbs and was 18.5 inches long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>SHE. IS. <i>INCREDIBLE!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am SO sorry it has taken me almost a month to share the story of her incredible "birth"day! As I am sure you can imagine things have been <i>wonderfully crazy </i>in my life since that beautiful day and every free moment I have had has been spent either cuddling one of my 3 sweet kiddos or NAPPING! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With that said, in celebration of our Ruthie's first month, I hope to share her birth story tomorrow and give you a glimpse of our last month in subsequent posts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before I close today I want to thank you all, from the bottom of my heart for all your prayers, support and kind words over the last two years. The Lord has done GREAT things- including provide us with a community of support greater than we could ever ask or imagine. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for everything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I said in my<a href="http://cincomariposas.blogspot.com/2013/05/6-days.html" target="_blank"> last post</a>...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>He has made everything beautiful in its time (Ecc 3:11)</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To GOD be all glory, honor and praise!</span></div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-14909724666694768142013-05-07T12:03:00.000-07:002020-03-03T07:40:02.218-08:006 Days<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In just 6 days I will see my beautiful Ruth for the first time!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our baby girl's birthday will be 5-13-13 :) and <i>we couldn't possibly</i> be <b>more excited</b>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This week will be full of organizing, cleaning and packing as we prepare for our adventure to Florida! Miss Ruthie's bag is packed and ready!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't worry, her diapers and wipes and bottles are in her other bag ;)</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Here's our plan:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday </span></b>morning, after Turner's soccer game, we will head to Grammy and Gramps' house in Pawley's Island.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sunday,</span></b> bright and early, Niles and I will leave the boys in Pawley's and head South for approximately 10 hours to FL. That evening, we will meet the amazing people that are going to lend us their home during our FL stay. Then we will travel 30 minutes to meet "B" in person for the first time at her home. We ask that you cover us all in prayer during this time as it will be a highly emotional time for us all (and it will be Mother's Day of all days)... we pray specifically that she will feel our love and admiration for her and that she will know and not doubt the abundant love of our Lord as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Monday,</span></b> bright and early, we will meet "B" at the hospital. I will then have the absolute honor of witnessing the birth of my soon-to-be baby girl via c-section at approximately 8AM. Again we ask for your prayers. Specifically please pray for a safe and delivery for "B". Please pray for her heart and her body as both will experience great difficulty and pain... Please pray that the God of all comfort will be near her, especially as she says good bye. It breaks my heart to even write that... and yet I believe that the Lord WILL "cover her with his feathers and shelter her with his wings. And his faithful promises WILL be her armor and protection." I ask again that you lift her up in prayer as often as she comes to mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the hospital Niles and I will likely be given a room to care for and stay with our baby girl for the two days she is in the hospital. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday,</span></b> we expect Ruthie to be discharged and begin our wait to come home!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When can we go home?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will remain in Florida pending permission from "ICPC" authorities to leave FL and return to SC. <i>The "Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children" is a
federal law which establishes uniform legal and administrative
procedures governing the interstate placement of children. The ICPC is premised on the belief that children requiring out-of-state
placement will receive the same protections and services that would be
provided if they remained in their home states, and further that all
legal requirements are observed. In furtherance of this goal, the ICPC
gives the sending state the opportunity to conduct home studies and
evaluate the proposed placement. It allows the prospective receiving
state the opportunity to determine that the placement is in the child’s
best interests and it guarantees both legal and financial protection.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That being said, we are praying that this process will be a speedy one! We have been told to prepare for a minimum of 7 BUSINESS days from the time papers are signed (which will be on Tuesday). We ask that you pray for both FL and SC to<b> efficiently</b> review and approve our paperwork so that we can come HOME and introduce Ruthie to her big brother's!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are overjoyed to be so close and are ever so grateful for your prayers and excitement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We truly believe that </span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"He has <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-17371A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>made everything beautiful in its time..." Ecclesiastes 3:11</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Eccl-3-11" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To our God be all the glory- forever!</span></div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-26844623393809643412013-04-24T12:14:00.000-07:002020-03-03T07:39:22.193-08:00The Lord Will Provide<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At some point there may come a time when I am <i>not surprised</i> by the incredible ways God p</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">rovides for our needs... but today I remain amazed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Again the Lord has given us more than we could <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%203:20&version=ESV" target="_blank">ask for or imagine...</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First, </span>we were able to close on the refinance of our home (that we have been working toward since January) last week. This means that not only do we skip a month in payments (on the EXACT month we bring home Ruthie!) but going forward we will pay $200 LESS per month! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then</span>, one day last week we received an unexpected check in the mail for $300 for the settlement of the townhouse we sold 2 years ago! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then, </span>the grant that we applied for earlier and were notified about last week was confirmed yesterday- and it is <b>$1,000 MORE</b> than what we even hoped for! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">AND THEN</span> today I go to check the mail and say to the Lord "OK Lord, what's today's encouragement going to be?" only to find a $1,100+ check from the bank from the escrows of our original home loan! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seriously?!?!?! </span></i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When the Lord called our family to adopt, nearly 2 years ago, we knew that He would provide every single dollar we would need. But it's one thing to <i>"know"</i> something and something all together different to <i>"watch" </i>something miraculous happen as we have these last weeks and months... our God is truly </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>our JEHOVAH-JIREH</b> <i>"The Lord our Provider"</i>. We are blown away by his generosity and loving<span style="font-size: small;"> kindness.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our desire in sharing all of this with you is t<span style="font-size: small;">o <b>encourage you </b>that wherever the Lord leads you <span style="font-size: small;">H</span>e too will provide. </span></span> Jehovah-Jireh will never leave you nor forsake you and he promises to <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6:26&version=ESV" target="_blank">provide</a> for all your needs. Be encouraged and take heart! </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One final mind blowing <span style="font-size: small;">development- yesterday we found out that we will meet our precious birthmother on <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Mother's Day</b>.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I can't imagine a more appropriate day to<span style="font-size: small;"> hug <span style="font-size: small;">her for the first time.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>19 days <span style="font-size: small;">and counting<span style="font-size: small;">!</span></span> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span> </span></span>Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-59356401071726040252013-04-16T12:24:00.002-07:002020-03-03T07:37:06.129-08:00Grumpy but Grateful<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-118-24" id="en-ESV-15894">This is the day that the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> has made;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-118-24">let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24</span></span></span></i></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-118-24" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the elders of our church encouraged our congregation last week to look at each day as a gift from our Lord. He even cautioned us against having a bad attitude toward the dreaded start of the week... <i>Monday...</i></span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-118-24" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well my <i>Monday attitude</i> arrived a day late... </span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-118-24" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 weeks of an annoying stomach bug for my boys + poison ivy and too little sleep for Mommy= one grumpy me!</span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-118-24" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But in an effort to "rejoice and be glad" I am going to BATTLE my case <i>of the Monday's</i> with gratitude!</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-118-24" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am grateful because...</span></span></i></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>...we have received TONS of butterflies!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THANK YOU! At last count there were 33 butterflies on our door! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(If you'd like to participate check out <a href="http://cincomariposas.blogspot.com/2013/04/something-new.html" target="_blank">this post</a> for details)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-118-24" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>...you fine people have ordered almost 20 shirts! <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you all for helping us spread the word and for purchasing tshirts and onesies! I can't wait to see you sporting your Ruthie T! Every single shirt helps us raise the final funds we need.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">...<i>our travel arrangements for Florida are complete!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It looks like Niles and Ruthie and I will have the privilege of staying in a beautiful FL home of a friend for our entire stay! No HOTEL!! And thanks to all the tshirts we have sold- we even have gas money :) yippie!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>... our "Turner and Calvin" team is assembled!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are so blessed to have family and friends that have stepped up to help us care for the boys while we are gone to FL! You guys rock- and I KNOW my boys are going to have a blast while we're gone! I am so grateful that one more item is off my mental list.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">... <i>our loan is approved!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ABBA Fund has graciously approved our loan request today!<i> </i>Another step closer to having every bit of what we need to bring Ruthie home!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>... our birthmom is doing well!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just received an email from her saying she is well and looking forward to meeting us :)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be encouraged! Our God is at work and he is moving His people to supply our every need!</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I'm going to sneak a nap for the next 15 minutes and all will be right with the world.</span></i></div>
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-118-24"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i> </span></span>Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-44266609364466333532013-04-10T13:01:00.000-07:002020-03-03T07:45:44.452-08:00...that we might have strong encouragement<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the devotional I read yesterday (based on Hebrews <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews%206:13-20&version=ESV" target="_blank">6:13-20)</a>, John Piper says</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God desires to "show"- prove, demonstrate, point out, represent, display, reveal, drive home - <b>the hopefulness of our future.</b> He really wants us to feel this. He goes the second (and third and fourth) mile to help us feel encouraged. This is what he wants. This is what he <i>really </i>wants. "...<i>that we might have strong encouragement"</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well today these verses have seen fulfilment in my life! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today the encouragement has come in huge waves...</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ducGsuE8oCg/UWW8aVJA7qI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/4H4vtUUEQQc/s1600/big-wave.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ducGsuE8oCg/UWW8aVJA7qI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/4H4vtUUEQQc/s320/big-wave.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...</span></i><i><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I am joyfully drenched!</span></i> </i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1) I received an email today (after two phone calls yesterday) from one of the organizations we applied for an adoption grant and it said:</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On behalf of the foundation I am delighted to inform you that the board has approved your request for financial assistance!</span></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We don't yet know how much we have been awarded but we are so excited! Every bit helps!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2) Just minutes after calling Niles to tell him that we were being awarded a grant the mailman arrived with a package <i>I've been waiting days for-</i> it included all of our official paperwork from the agency in Florida and <b>about 20 ultra sound photos!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so, SO thrilled to share with you the first glimpse of our baby girl...</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sisQlrBF4yk/UWW-99f99VI/AAAAAAAAHzY/Dk6-5Xpnprc/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sisQlrBF4yk/UWW-99f99VI/AAAAAAAAHzY/Dk6-5Xpnprc/s400/image.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My beautiful, <i>beloved,</i> Ruthie B.</span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh how my heart sings at the sight of this precious baby! As if that wasn't enough for one day...</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3) Just seconds after I opened the packaged I received a call from a dear friend letting me know that she had talked to her father, that "happens" to live within minutes of the hospital where Ruthie will be born, and he would like to offer us his home for as long as we might need it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PEOPLE, HEAR ME, OUR GOD <b>ROCKS</b>!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No germy hotels, or night after night of restaurant food during our stay! We will be in a safe and clean HOME, with a kitchen AND POOL, in sunny FLORIDA! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God desires ME to have STRONG encouragement- a<b>nd he desires that for you too</b>. I pray that our story would never point to anything "good" that we are trying to do but would instead point to our Almighty Father that pours his love over his children. He has done every bit of the work to supply what we need and sustain us during the journey with encouragement and faith. He delights in us and he delights in YOU.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I close this most encouraging post I ask that you would pray for our birthmom, "B". Today "just happens" to be her birthday! My prayer for her is that she too will feel drenched with the love and encouragement from our God and from her family today!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's one more shot of baby girl...</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5OBq8snrcr0/UWXDLmwzKTI/AAAAAAAAHzo/RkQ9EZtNeoA/s1600/image(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5OBq8snrcr0/UWXDLmwzKTI/AAAAAAAAHzo/RkQ9EZtNeoA/s400/image(1).jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With her hands in her mouth-<i> just like her big brothers :).</i></span></div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-34723596128977760452013-04-08T11:59:00.000-07:002020-03-03T07:49:00.716-08:00T-shirts for Ruthie!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I have said from the beginning that one of the ways the Lord has blessed us the most during our adoption journey has been in relation to our fundraisers. Well our most recent fundraising effort has been no exception! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After our adoption was unsuccessful in February (with birth mother K) I knew that in order to continue our journey we would have to again raise funds to recoup what we lost, plus raise additional funds should we be matched by an agency... lets just say I <i>wasn't excited about the idea. </i> I KNEW that God would bless our efforts in a mighty way but I just had little momentum and couldn't really come up with an idea Niles or I were excited about.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">THEN while doing some research I came across a fellow <i>adoptive Mommy</i> and brilliant graphic designer named Christine. Christine adopted a gorgeous little boy in 2011 and decided she wanted to help other families follow the call to adopt.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here is a little of what she says on <a href="http://www.greatoakcircle.com/free-to-adopt-free-design-services-for-adoption-fundraisers">her site</a>:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>We are convinced through God’s Word that caring for orphans is not a
charity case or something for those that can’t have their “own” kids,
but something that we as Christians are called to and a picture of what
we have been given. We have been adopted as brothers of Christ (Romans
8), we receive the inheritance as sons of God. We are all called to
care for orphans by adopting them ourselves, helping others adopt,
foster care or perhaps feeding, visiting and sponsoring kids currently
unavailable for adoption... I want to continue to care for orphans now while we wait to bring our
next one home, so I’m offering a few design services to help your family
raise money. </i></span></blockquote>
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So she created:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As soon as I discovered her site I contacted Christine and applied right away! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then a couple days later, just 2 hours after we heard that our Florida birthmother "B" had picked us, we heard back from Christine saying she would be able to help us fundraise! God is a most wonderful provider :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">So with all that said we are excited to announce our <i>BRAND NEW adoption fundraiser- </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://fergusonsadopt.spreadshirt.com/"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">T-shirts for Ruthie!</span></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">C</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hristine has helped us design <b>7 different </b><i><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Psalm 91:4 t-shirts</span></b></i> in a variety of colors and styles for babies, toddlers, women, and men!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a quick peek at one of the women's shirts</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hzU0-TuJoRM/UWMMInxJRJI/AAAAAAAAHyo/VjFGhSj7YIA/s1600/1,width=280,height=280.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hzU0-TuJoRM/UWMMInxJRJI/AAAAAAAAHyo/VjFGhSj7YIA/s1600/1,width=280,height=280.png" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Front</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FzyMTg-IEds/UWMMZXCWE_I/AAAAAAAAHyw/1M_atIHOplw/s1600/2,width=280,height=280.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FzyMTg-IEds/UWMMZXCWE_I/AAAAAAAAHyw/1M_atIHOplw/s1600/2,width=280,height=280.png" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Back</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazing, right??</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are so grateful to Christine for her help with this project and hope you are as excited about these shirts as we are!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have <i>several thousand dollars</i> left to raise in the next 4 weeks- <b>and every single shirt puts us closer to fulfilling that need. </b>We know that God is doing a mighty work in the life of our birthmother, our baby girl and in our lives- <b>and we invite YOU to again be an important part of this most beautiful story. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To help us spread the word please feel free to share t<a href="http://cincomariposas.blogspot.com/2013/04/t-shirts-for-ruthie.html">his post</a> with your friends and family! If you'd like to share our fundraiser on Facebook we would MOST appreciate it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Help the Ferguson's raise the funds they need to bring Ruthie home AND get <b>a cool tshirt! </b>The Ferguson’s
have opened an online t-shirt shop to raise funds to bring home their baby girl- and<b> you can help! </b>Visit their shop at <a href="http://fergusonsadopt.spreadshirt.com/">FergusonsAdopt.spreadshirt.com</a> and get your shirt today!"</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We thank you all in advance for your support and can't wait to see you in your new t's!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">I'll leave you with my absolute favorite item in our shop:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4DRdcA3Y7dU/UWMRdMKGNxI/AAAAAAAAHy4/rg5XzlatA9U/s1600/baby-bodysuit-732.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4DRdcA3Y7dU/UWMRdMKGNxI/AAAAAAAAHy4/rg5XzlatA9U/s1600/baby-bodysuit-732.png" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Can't wait to see my Ruthie girl in this!!</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">PS- </span>If you would like to contribute to our daughter's adoption, but prefer not to purchase a t-shirt, we humbly say "thank you". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>There are 2 ways to give:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You may donate by way of check. If you choose this option, 100% of your contribution will go to us.</span><br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-31794040467818367782013-04-05T07:00:00.000-07:002013-04-05T07:05:07.090-07:00Something New<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<s><span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent4;">again<o:p></o:p></span></s></div>
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I want to remove the word <i>"again"</i> from my thinking...</div>
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That little<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> tiny word</i></span> has the power to discourage me and cause me to fear. Adding "again" to the end of even encouraging and exciting news feels like a <i>soggy, wet blanket</i>... for example:</div>
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"We've been chosen by a birthmother- <i>again.</i>"</blockquote>
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Saying <i>again </i> put this current chapter of our story on the same page as our two previous <i>"chosen and disappointed"</i> chapters. I believe that<span style="font-size: x-small;"> tiny word</span> is a tool of our enemy to steal my joy and cause me to doubt my God. </div>
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Instead <b>I will choose </b>to trust that my God will work this chapter out for our good and I will hope that now God is "doing a<b> new </b>thing"!</div>
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My amazing Mom sent these verses last week:</div>
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<span style="background-color:; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">“Remember not the former things,</span></div>
<span class="indent-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-43-18" style="position: relative;">nor consider the things of old.</span></span></div>
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</span><span class="text Isa-43-19" id="en-ESV-18525" style="background-color:; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">19 </sup><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-18525AD" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)"></sup></span><br />
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<span class="text Isa-43-19" id="en-ESV-18525" style="background-color:; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Behold, I am doing a new thing;</span></span></div>
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I will make a way in the wilderness</div>
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<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-43-19" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-18525AF" title="See cross-reference AF">AF</a>)"></sup>and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43)</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">In this passage the Lord is encouraging the Jewish people (that were in exile) not to live in the past but instead to <b>look </b></span><b>forward</b> to his fulfillment of his promises...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I choose to do the same! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I will look forward and not back.</span><br />
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To help us battle the <i>"again" </i>doubts that creep in we have outfitted our door with encouragements from God's Word.<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t7qzyOtRl2Q/UV7Kl9RtoyI/AAAAAAAAHxk/Nn19kZ0reV8/s640/blogger-image-2011187670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t7qzyOtRl2Q/UV7Kl9RtoyI/AAAAAAAAHxk/Nn19kZ0reV8/s640/blogger-image-2011187670.jpg" /></a></div>
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And to remind us that the Lord is in the business of <i><span style="color: #351c75;"><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2061:3&version=ESV">changing ugly things into beautiful creations</a>,</b></span></i> the boys and I have added butterflies! </div>
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We would LOVE to fill all the white space with <b>butterflies</b>... and we were wondering</div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">would YOU like to help?</span></b></i></div>
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We invite you (and your kiddos!) to get crafty!</div>
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We would love and be hugely encouraged by your creations.</div>
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If you'd like to mail us your creation our address is:</div>
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Ferguson Family</div>
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PO BOX 1771</div>
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Fort Mill, SC 29715</div>
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We love you all and look forward to seeing your "new" creations!</div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-51852629657782324602013-04-03T20:22:00.001-07:002020-03-03T07:46:19.297-08:00Rejoicing in His Nearness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="text Isa-43-19" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; position: relative;">Friends, we are rejoicing! A beautiful woman in Florida has chosen us to be the family for her baby girl. But the most amazing part of the story is that the Lord was already doing a mighty work on my heart even before he made my "dreams" come true...</span></div>
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<span class="text Isa-43-19" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; position: relative;">The 2 weeks l<i>eading up to</i> the phone call we had been praying about, I was feeling the Lord drawing nearer and nearer to my heart... </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Consistently I noticed when I spent time reading my Bible I felt him <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2055:6&version=ESV">meeting me there</a>, teaching me about himself and his faithfulness... (that doesn't always happen to me).</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">One evening Niles and I had an incredibly <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+95&version=ESV" target="_blank">worshipful</a> experience at a <a href="http://bethelmusic.com/springtour/">Bethel</a> concert. We felt the Lord's presence and his love almost tangibly that night even when our hearts were heavy and distracted when the evening began. One song in particular touched my heart entitled <i>Show me Your Face LORD. </i>The last line of the song said "I could make it to the end if I could just see your face"... I realized then that that was something I was longing for- just to see God's face in all that was happening...</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also began to feel a "lightness" that was returning... God was <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+147&version=ESV">healing my broken heart</a> and I only began to notice it when things "didn't" happen... for example when I <b>didn't </b>tear up when I saw a baby girl or when I <b>didn't </b>feel sad and sorry for myself when I walked by our nursery... or when I <b>didn't </b>fall completely apart when I heard a fellow adoptive mommy was matched with a baby girl after a relatively "short wait" (note- there were tears, but much less than one might expect!)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then I noticed that my excitement for the baby God would bring us returned- it felt <i>possible again</i> that our Ruthie would come home one day and my <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%208:10&version=ESV" target="_blank">strength</a> to move forward and "do" what I could was renewed...</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then I realized that even in my grief and weakness over the last month <b>God </b>was <b>giving me</b> daily doses of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+12:9&version=ESV" target="_blank">faith</a> and restoring my trust in Him! Praise Him for his gift of FAITH!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I say these things not to say that I was doing anything worthy of praise... <b>God did all the work! </b> (I just put one foot in front of the other and survived). I point out the events of the last two weeks to say that <i>now I see </i>that <b>God,</b> <i>in His great mercy and in His perfect timing, </i>has worked all things together for my good (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208:28&version=ESV">Romans 8:28</a>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">... even before I received the call that would make my dreams of a baby girl come true my GOD gave me what HE KNEW I <i>really</i> wanted most... I wanted to be <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4:16&version=ESV">near Him </a>and He has given me the desire of my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And now he has blessed us even more abundantly with the news that we will be the parents of a precious baby girl! We couldn't possibly be more excited.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">More on that story to come :).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For now, I ask that you pray for our most precious new friend, "<i>B"</i>, and the baby girl she is carrying that we hope will be our Ruthie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <i>May the Lord shelter them and give them peace.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <b>Amen.</b></span></div>
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<br />Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-82919993374125397922013-03-19T11:44:00.002-07:002013-03-19T11:44:09.270-07:00Encouragement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">An encouragement from fellow <i> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>waiting<span style="font-size: large;">-</span>adoptive<span style="font-size: large;">-</span>Mommy, </i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Alissa Bray.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks, friend!</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Be sure to check out <a href="http://crowdednestisbest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Alissa's blog </a>to keep up with their growing family :)</span>Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-71294978163384080362013-03-18T19:36:00.001-07:002020-03-03T07:42:12.447-08:00Change<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Our circumstances have not changed.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">... birthmother K remains committed to her last minute plan to parent. Neither K nor her parents have contacted us since the day before the baby was born. And today we were told that both attorneys are essentially closing the case and settling accounts payable. <i>Blah.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our circumstances haven't changed, <b>but neither has our God.</b></span></span><br />
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<span class="text Mal-3-6"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"I the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> do not change</i>...<i>" (Malachi 3:6)</i></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Jesus Christ is <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30233N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup>the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A "head knowledge" that <i>God doesn't change </i>doesn't take away the ache in our hearts for the babies we have loved and lost. Not at all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But with each passing day we are <i>renewed in the hope</i> that our infinite, eternal, and unchangeable God has called our family to welcome our daughter through adoption- and in HIS perfect timing she will be home. We know that this journey is not about finding "a baby"- it is the path to <i>our daughter that the Lord loves more than I do and already knows by name. </i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We want to say a most sincere "thank you" to all of you. We have been overwhelmed by your prayers, your hugs, your kind messages and your care. You have helped sustain us, through the love of Christ, like only the body of Christ can. We can't imagine our life or this journey without Him or you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We wait expectantly upon the Lord; trusting and believing that He is <b>already </b>doing immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.</span></div>
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<br />Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-41777484771484862652013-03-10T12:23:00.000-07:002020-03-03T07:32:42.581-08:00Broken Hearts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have delayed writing this post... choosing instead to hope that what was happening wasn't real...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But unfortunately we are here... <i>again.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Again</i> a woman that we loved and prayed for has had a last minute change of heart.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Again</i> a baby we have fallen in love with will not be joining our family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Again</i> we are left broken.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Again</i> we find ourselves asking the Lord <i>why? </i>and begging for his comfort...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, <i>what happened?</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Friday before K's due date I received a call from her father saying that there was a problem. He said <i>"K received a text from the birth father and he plans to contest the adoption." </i> Apparently, the birth father that had been supportive of K's plans to place their baby for adoption had a last second change of heart. K on the other hand wanted to proceed with the adoption as planned...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We spent the weekend on the phone with K's father, our attorney and her attorney gathering information and making plans. We were informed by our attorney that the birth father had little (if any) right to contest and we were assured over and over by K's family that what she desired was to move forward. Niles and I remained committed to helping carry out her plans... even though there was a risk that we would be walking into a legal battle if the birth father moved forward with his threats. We went to bed Sunday night just asking the Lord to change the birth father's heart and make clear what our next steps should be...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our answer came in the form of a call on Monday afternoon. K's father called Niles and work and explained to him that <i>K was afraid of the possibility that our adoption would be contested and result in her baby being raised by the birth father (a 16-year old 10th grader with a difficult home life)... so instead she decided to <b>parent the baby herself.</b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's it. No more discussion. Just over.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">[silence]</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Two days, later in a moment of almost desperation to know <i>something </i>I began searching for the birth father online... </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">S<i>omehow,</i> with bunny trails of old Myspace pages I found his name and was then able to look him up on Facebook.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...On his page I saw him and I saw <i>the baby.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She was born that day, a sunny Wednesday. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She looked tiny with a head full of black hair. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her name was Clara B.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Knowing </i>that she was born and safe didn't heal the wound in my heart... but in some way it was a step toward closure... a tiny step.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Niles and I emailed K's family that day. We let them know that <span style="color: #222222;">our hearts were deeply saddened by the stress and difficulty that caused a change in K's plans and that we committed to supporting K in her decision. We also asked them to communicate to K that our hearts are saddened but not angry toward her. We closed the email letting them know that if circumstances were to change and K decide that she longer wanted to parent that we were able to move at a moment's notice to return to our original plan.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They never responded to our email.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Now what?</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now we grieve. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now we sit at the Lord's feet and ask him to comfort our hearts.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now we take things one day at a time allowing ourselves both good days and bad days</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now we cling to God's word for strength, trusting that:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Those who sow in tears <b>will reap with shouts of joy!</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>(Psalm 126:5-6)</i></span><br />
<br />Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-79029096533167518802013-02-13T14:15:00.000-08:002020-03-03T07:41:55.316-08:00Psalm 27:14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I am clinging to this verse:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3zr93bDMP3k/URwJjS4RU4I/AAAAAAAAHtQ/n8QR9isW04s/s1600/wait1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3zr93bDMP3k/URwJjS4RU4I/AAAAAAAAHtQ/n8QR9isW04s/s400/wait1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our precious birth mother-to-be, "K" is due in<i> "just" </i>18 days. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I say "just" because it feels like FOR-EV-ER away...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am reading a wonderful book entitled "The Open Adoption Experience" and it pretty accurately describes how I'm feeling right now:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"The adoptive parents may feel that these last weeks are taking longer than the many years they have spent trying to become a family. They may be torn between being excited about the arrival of the baby, which they hope will mean taking the baby home and becoming her parents, and being fearful that the birth mother will decide to parent the baby herself. Their excitement is further tempered by knowing the pain and sadness that will be experienced by the birth mother if she proceeds with the adoption plan. They may be tempted to try to avoid thinking about the birth by keeping busy at work or with projects, taking a vacation or by detaching themselves from the process. "</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>But I will take courage! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>And I will wait for the Lord with great hope.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As far as <b>details</b> go- there is not much to update. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Any day now we expect a detailed hospital plan from K's attorney that will outline the specific details of K's desired hospital stay (including when/if she wants to see us in the hospital, when we can see the baby, who will care for the baby in the hospital, whether or not we will have an "entrustment ceremony" etc). We haven't heard any news regarding K or the baby's progress but we believe "no news is good news" in that area. Other than that we are quietly, as-patiently-as-possible waiting to hear that our baby girl is on the way! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will keep this blog as up to date as possible in coming days. </span></span><br />
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We ask for your prayers and look forward with EAGER anticipation to the day we can introduce you all to our baby girl!</span>Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-87914403793971339092013-02-08T12:57:00.001-08:002020-03-03T07:30:20.164-08:00We Are Ready. We Are Filled With Hope.<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Since my last post we have been busily preparing for the arrival of our baby girl. Thanks to one of my beautiful friend's help this week I was able to finally COMPLETE my sweet Ruth's nursery and rearrange furniture in all three bedrooms! It seems that my "nesting" has extended beyond Ruthie's nursery to include the entire house :).</span></span><br />
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I'm sure however, that what YOU want to see is baby girl's nursery...</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dL3iQpFexmg/URVWtDPHxeI/AAAAAAAAHrY/AvePNvXaCGs/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dL3iQpFexmg/URVWtDPHxeI/AAAAAAAAHrY/AvePNvXaCGs/s640/DSC_0007.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tah-dah! </span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X91cLLjbpTw/URVWtcq-cRI/AAAAAAAAHrg/AtnSp7Vi2ls/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X91cLLjbpTw/URVWtcq-cRI/AAAAAAAAHrg/AtnSp7Vi2ls/s640/DSC_0021.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Is this owl precious or what?)</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9qnxreIfWk4/URVWvWKneKI/AAAAAAAAHr8/XvH9Mf8OaHo/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="319" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9qnxreIfWk4/URVWvWKneKI/AAAAAAAAHr8/XvH9Mf8OaHo/s320/DSC_0027.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">A HUGE thank you to Ruth's Titi Diana for this sweet detail!</span><br />
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And did you see the <b>puzzle</b> on the wall?</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dcJ6iz5sO9o/URVWxuG2wyI/AAAAAAAAHsU/xXEQoB-LhxU/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dcJ6iz5sO9o/URVWxuG2wyI/AAAAAAAAHsU/xXEQoB-LhxU/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This <a href="http://cincomariposas.blogspot.com/2013/01/8-days-of-cheerful-giving.html" target="_blank">beautiful puzzle</a> is one of the most special things in her nursery.</span></span><br />
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And here are some close-ups of Ruthie's crib area. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ag7ipWICpw/URVWtvxzvSI/AAAAAAAAHrw/CQstiB0GMEU/s1600/Ruthie%2527s%2BRoom1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ag7ipWICpw/URVWtvxzvSI/AAAAAAAAHrw/CQstiB0GMEU/s640/Ruthie%2527s%2BRoom1.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (My goal is eventually to hang this mobile on a branch coming off one of the wall trees.)</span><br />
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Here are a few more close-ups...</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eMAApUIGCFE/URVWv1pK1cI/AAAAAAAAHsI/PghlcKXcDT8/s1600/Ruthie%2527s%2BRoom.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eMAApUIGCFE/URVWv1pK1cI/AAAAAAAAHsI/PghlcKXcDT8/s640/Ruthie%2527s%2BRoom.jpg" width="512" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've joked with friends saying that <i>by this point I should be an expert in nursery design.</i>.. I mean this is <b>the 3rd time </b>I've designed a nursery after all :) (<a href="http://cincomariposas.blogspot.com/2012/04/room-additions.html" target="_blank">nursery #1</a> and <a href="http://cincomariposas.blogspot.com/2012/08/js-nursery.html" target="_blank">nursery #2</a>)! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">(note: if you are new to our blog I encourage you to go back and read our story from <a href="http://cincomariposas.blogspot.com/2011/07/fathers-day-message.html" target="_blank">the beginning</a>- it's been a nutty and beautiful adventure!)</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">All kidding aside Ruthie's nursery has been <i><b>a labor of love</b></i> from the beginning. It was a small way I could <i>do something</i> to prepare and express my deep love for the baby the Lord has just for us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">We have lovingly poured over the details of Ruth's nursery.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">We have warm blankets and clean sheets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">We have her clothes in drawers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">We have diapers on the changing table.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">We have toys organized and ready to be played with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">We have a carseat and all the funds we need be able to bring her home...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">And by God's grace we have hearts <b>filled with hope</b> that our baby girl will be home with us soon.</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We ask for your prayers for our precious birthmother as she endures the last 3 weeks of her pregnancy. May the Lord cover her with his feathers and shelter her with his wings. And may she always know the Lord's promises Lord's promises are her armor and protection.</span></i></span><br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-81884233186160242502013-01-22T12:55:00.000-08:002020-03-03T07:31:12.631-08:00Ask Him<em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></sup>“</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ask, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23324I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup>and it will be given to you; <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23324J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup>seek, and you will find; <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23324K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup>knock, and it will be opened to you.<span style="background-color: yellow;"> <span class="text Matt-7-8" id="en-ESV-23325"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.</span></span></span> <span class="text Matt-7-9" id="en-ESV-23326"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>Or which one of you, if his son asks him for <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23326L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup>bread, will give him <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23326M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup>a stone?</span></span> <span class="text Matt-7-10" id="en-ESV-23327"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?</span></span> <span class="text Matt-7-11" id="en-ESV-23328"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>If you then, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23328N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup>who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23328O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup>your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"</span></span></span></em><br />
<span class="text Matt-7-11"><span class="woj" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Matthew 7</em></span></span><br />
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<span class="text Matt-7-11"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a beautiful promise from our God- <em>everyone who asks receives... </em></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-7-11"><span class="woj" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-7-11"><span class="woj">In reference to these verses my study bible says <em>"</em></span></span><span class="text Matt-7-11"><span class="woj"><em>Disciples are to <strong>persist </strong>in prayer, confident that their Father will provide whatever is best for them, according to his sovereign, gracious will."
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<span class="text Matt-7-11"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We knew when God called our family to grow through adoption that HE would have to provide us the necessary components: an agency to teach and prepare us, a birthmother to choose us, endurance for the journey, attorneys to make things official and <strong>the funds </strong>to offset all the costs<strong>.</strong></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="text Matt-7-11"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every step of the journey we have asked our Father for what we need and he has provided. Some of his provision has been supernatural and direct to our hearts- <em>like the healing and peace he has given us after our failed adoption of "baby J".</em> Some of his provision has come by way of gifts of talent which we have used to fundraise- <em>like Niles's insane musical skills or my ability to capture fun and beauty on camera. </em>Still other provision has come in the form of circumstances and events that only he could orchestrate- <em>like the way we were connected with and chosen by our birthmother. </em></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="text Matt-7-11"><span class="woj" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But my favorite way God has provided for us in this journey has been the way he has moved in the hearts of both old and new friends to contribute to our needs- <strong>every, single time we asked </strong>(and even sometimes out of the blue!)</span></span><br />
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<span class="text Matt-7-11"><span class="woj" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll be honest- asking people for donations is hard. It is difficult to say <em>"I have a need that I cannot fulfill on my own."</em> It is humbling and vulnerable whether you are asking for prayer, or donations for items to sell at a yardsale, or for people to buy and wear your bracelets or asking for them to give you $30 in exchange for a puzzle piece- but OH HOW ENCOURAGING when God's people respond! And for that, again we want to thank each of you. You have responded- cheerfully and without question and you have encouraged our hearts.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pray this is an encouragement to you- last Friday we received a call from our attorney with the amount we owed that day for our initial retainer fee... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">$3,000.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yep, $3,000 on the dot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <strong>exact amount you all gave us just days before it was due</strong>... no more, no less. EXACTLY what we needed. There is NO WAY we could have know what the exact amount would be- and we certainly had NO idea when we started the fundraiser that we would need those funds so quickly (just days after the puzzle was complete!). And there is NO WAY we would have had the funds needed without you.</span><br />
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<span class="text Matt-7-11"><span class="woj" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have brought us one step closer to our Ruthie. </span></span><br />
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<span class="text Matt-7-11"><span class="woj" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pray you are encouraged knowing that a VERY big God is at work in your life and ours. Ask Him persistently, confidently and faithfully for what you need.</span></span><br />
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-51548639503647015212013-01-11T15:33:00.001-08:002020-03-03T07:25:15.373-08:008 Days of Cheerful Giving<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">8 days!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Within minutes of my <a href="http://cincomariposas.blogspot.com/2013/01/piecing-together-our-needed-funds.html" target="_blank">post </a>unveiling our fundraiser (to raise funds for our legal fees) the first piece was donated- <i>seriously, it was about <u>10 minutes</u>! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">From that moment, to early this afternoon <i>when we received funds for last piece, </i>we have been blown away by the response we have experienced. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">blown. away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">You, God's beautiful children, have seen a need and you have opened your hearts to us <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%203:16-18&version=ESV" target="_blank">(1 John 3:16-18)</a>. You have loved us with your prayers and your gifts and for that we are eternally grateful. Truly words cannot express the encouragement we felt with each piece donated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">We pray that <b>you are blessed</b> and that your hearts are encouraged knowing that <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians+9&version=ESV" target="_blank">the Lord loves a cheerful giver</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">PS- if you were excited about donating a piece but were unable to do so before they were all gone-<b> thank you! </b> We welcome and appreciate any donations for our remaining expenses (more on this in another post). We will even find some room on the back of the puzzle to add your name if you'd like! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>PSS- Any funds we receive above and beyond what we need for Ruthie's adoption we plan to give to our <a href="http://carrollsadopt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">dear friends</a> that are raising funds to adopt 2 children from Ethiopia. To God be the glory!</i></span></div>
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-63601126094226462722013-01-07T11:33:00.000-08:002020-03-03T07:24:39.370-08:00Almost 1/2 way there!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are OVERJOYED to announce that our puzzle is (<em>almost) </em><strong>half-way complete!</strong> In less than 4 days we have received over $1,400 for 47 puzzle pieces! We are humbled and ever so grateful for each and every $ given. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been such a blessing to us to watch as you have shared our story with your family and friends- and they have responded! Many of you that have purchased puzzle pieces are folks we've never met! We have received donations from as far west as TX, as far north as NY! And we have also received countless messages from many of you promising to pray for us- and for that we too are ever so grateful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you read our </span><a href="http://cincomariposas.blogspot.com/2013/01/grasshoppers.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">post over the weekend</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> you know that we need to raise our funds even faster than we originally anticipated (to pay <em>up front</em> legal fees). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>SO let's get this puzzle built!</strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BGK2y20ueL0/UOsfMzyJjNI/AAAAAAAAHmE/c9MevfhQNLM/s1600/PuzzlePiecesSmall-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BGK2y20ueL0/UOsfMzyJjNI/AAAAAAAAHmE/c9MevfhQNLM/s400/PuzzlePiecesSmall-007.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In case this is your first time to our blog, here is some brief information about our adoption fundraiser:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are in the process of adopting a domestic baby girl that we plan to name Ruthie. She will be born by the end of February. Prior to placement we need to raise a minimum of $3,000 to pay up front legal fees. <span style="color: purple;">W</span><b><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;">e are asking you to join with us and help us bring
Ruthie home!!</span> </span></span></b><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">piecing together a puzzle</b> as folks
contribute towards our legal and documentation fees.
<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Each
piece will be $30</span></b><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
and we will write the name of each person who buys a piece (or pieces) on the
back of the piece, and eventually frame the puzzle in a double glass frame. It
will be a constant reminder, to hang on our wall, of those who came together to
help bring Ruthie home. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #333333;">Below is the image of the puzzle we are putting
together:</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span></span><br />
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</span>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-75PgKwwkdU0/UOnIvp4TEpI/AAAAAAAAHlE/FhnKGVjzVNU/s1600/puzzleforRuth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" closure_uid_ih081k="3" height="257" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-75PgKwwkdU0/UOnIvp4TEpI/AAAAAAAAHlE/FhnKGVjzVNU/s320/puzzleforRuth.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<em><span style="font-weight: bold;">100 pieces @ $30 a piece= $3,000 raised </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(if fully completed)</span></span></em> <span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are only <em>53</em> pieces remaining!!</span></h2>
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</span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype>You can participate
in this fundraiser in a few ways:</span></h3>
<ul><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
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<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Use the secure <span style="color: #20124d;"><strong>PayPal</strong></span> link above to donate any
amount online (scroll up and click on the DONATE button above our family picture
:) ).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You can send us a check for any
amount to our <strong>home address</strong> <strong><u>OR</u></strong> to our Post
Office Box</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></div>
</li>
<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ferguson
Family</span><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">PO BOX 1771<br />Fort Mill, SC 2971</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: black;">Or if you are local to the Fort Mill area I am happy
to collect the funds from you anywhere that is convenient!</span> <br />
</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For
every <strong>$30 donated</strong>, we will write your name on the back of a
puzzle piece, and<strong> Ruthie will forever know the loved ones who helped
bring her home.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong><br /></strong><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We have <b>just a few weeks</b> friends. We would be
grateful if you would help spread the word by posting on your blogs or on
facebook or twitter. <i>(If you post, please leave a comment & let us know
so that we can thank you!)</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">If you would like you can cut and paste this
message on <strong>Facebook:</strong></span> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><em><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Help
<strong>piece together</strong> the funds to bring Ruthie home! The Ferguson’s
have less than a month to raise $3000- it's as simple as $30 for a puzzle
piece! Be a part of bringing her home to her forever family! <br />Go to
http://CincoMariposas.blogspot.com and <strong>donate
today</strong>!"</span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you again for your support!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With much love and great hope, <br />The Ferguson's</span></div>
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068606981741748692.post-17146182211071188992013-01-05T14:29:00.000-08:002020-03-03T07:24:01.777-08:00Grasshoppers<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our meeting with our attorney yesterday was discouraging.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, we learned one of the main differences between an
agency adoption and a private adoption= <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">financial
risk</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an agency adoption typically
the agency covers all up-front costs associated with a birth mother- then adoptive
families reimburse the agency once the child is placed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The agency does most if not all the leg work
and lawyers are not involved until the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In a private adoption lawyers are involved much sooner <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and they do a great deal of work PRIOR to
placement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Work prior to placement=
funds due prior to placement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A LOT of
funds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then we were told that IF this adoption fails, IF our sweet
birth mother changes her mind or IF the birth father contests (which is
unlikely), that all the funds paid will be “lost.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Lost.</em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s just say this wasn’t the conversation we were
expecting or hoping for- but it was necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was necessary for us to be made aware of the financial risk in
addition to the emotional risk we have already once experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was necessary- <em>and difficult.</em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We left the meeting pretty beaten up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went out to eat with some sweet friends, talked
about how we felt, ran some errands, talked some more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout the course of the night we knew a
few things for sure:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nothing had really changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our birth mom was still committed to the plan (she and I texted a bit
last night and everything seems as it has been).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our God is still God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And money is just money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So with that we went to bed.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then this morning I had SUCH an encouraging time with the
Lord!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to the Word with hopes of
renewed peace- and as always- the Lord met me and provided.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I spent some time reading </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2095&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Psalm
95</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> which begins with praises to God and ends with this warning:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text">Today, if you hear his voice,</span><br />
<span class="text"><span id="en-ESV-15463"><sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></sup>do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,</span></span><br />
<span class="text">as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,</span><br />
<span class="text"><span id="en-ESV-15464">when your fathers put me to the test</span></span><br />
<span class="text">and put me to the proof, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">though
they had seen my work.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span class="text" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From that Psalm the Lord led me to the
passages in </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2013&version=ESV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Numbers
13</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> that tells the story of the generation that tested and distrusted the
Lord- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">even though they had seen Him work
all the miracles that it took for their exodus from Egypt…<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text">The passage takes place the first time the
Israelites are standing outside the promised Land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gives Moses this command: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Send men to spy out the land of Canaan,
which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you
shall send a man, every one a chief among them.”</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So Moses did as God commanded, gathered 12
spies and sent them with these instructions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill
country,</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-ESV-4094"><span style="font-size: x-small;">18 </span></span></sup>and see what the land is, and
whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or
many,</span> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-ESV-4095"><span style="font-size: x-small;">19 </span></span></sup>and
whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that
they dwell in are camps or strongholds,</span> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-ESV-4096"><span style="font-size: x-small;">20 </span></span></sup>and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there
are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the
land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So they obeyed and spied the land for 40
days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When the spies returned they brought this
report to Moses:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text">“We came to the land to which you sent us.
It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.</span> <span id="en-ESV-4104"><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">28 </span></sup>However, the people who dwell in
the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides,
we saw the descendants of Anak there.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the
Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell
by the sea, and along the Jordan.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In other words: The Land God has for us is good and flows with
every blessing we could ever want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT taking
the land seems RISKY.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Only one spy, Caleb, seemed able to trust the LORD saying</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Let us go up at once
and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately Caleb was in the minority so
when the spies reported back to all the people they said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The
land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its
inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height.</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-ESV-4109"><span style="font-size: x-small;">33
</span></span></sup>And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim),
and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once the Israelites heard the report they
all freaked out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They cried all night
and they spoke out against Moses- saying ridiculous things like “maybe it would
have been better if we had died in Egypt”…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Israelites were scared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The obstacles in their path made them feel
tiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The risk to go into the Land
seemed too high- even if God was the one who promised it to them… the
probability that they would fail looked clear…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then 2 of the spies spoke up again-
Joshua and Caleb went before the people and said<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The
land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land.</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-ESV-4117"><span style="font-size: x-small;">8
</span></span></sup><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If the </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us,</b>
a land that flows with milk and honey.</span> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-ESV-4118"><span style="font-size: x-small;">9 </span></span></sup>Only do not rebel against the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text">. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And do not fear the people
of the land,</b> for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from
them, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the </b></span><span class="small-caps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> is with us</b>; do not fear them.”</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the Israelites didn’t
listen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lord told Moses to send spies into the land.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t pretend to know why God does
what he does- but it seems that he wanted them to know all the risk and
obstacles they were facing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems he
wanted them to feel like little bugs in the face of giants…SO THAT they would know
the Lord is with them. When the Lord heard the response of the Israelites to
Caleb and Joshua he said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How long will this people despise me? And how
long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done
among them?</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-ESV-4121"><span style="font-size: x-small;">12 </span></span></sup>I will strike them with the
pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and
mightier than they.”</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Israelites did not heed Caleb and Joshua’s words… but by
God’s grace <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we want to.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We feel the Lord is calling us to continue this journey
toward Ruthie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe that with the
Lord we are able to overcome any obstacles on the horizon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
know that the Lord calls us not to fear and we want to obey.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we believe the
Lord delights in us- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all 5 of us.</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are grateful for
all the “Joshua’s” and “Caleb’s” God has provided us to hold us along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have pointed us toward continued obedience
in this journey and have held us up when our faith has been weak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we are so grateful for all of you that
have participated in our fundraisers- your gifts are such an encouragement to
our hearts.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So onward we go!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>In
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth we continue, in faith, doing everything we
need to do to bring Ruthie home!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X_f6Dze2fgA/SdvNggIdtEI/AAAAAAAAAAM/IVuDmT7HaYU/S220/grasshopper+clinging+to+lavender.jpg" height="220" id="il_fi" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="190"></span></div>
<span id="goog_1186133178"></span><span id="goog_1186133179"></span><br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723500841680318835noreply@blogger.com1