ADOPTION NEWS!!! December 29, 2008

Yeah, I know. After the post on Momma’s blog, this joke is getting a little old. That’s what I’ve been feeling like lately too, it’s geting old. Somehow, it seems even MORE urgent this time around– maybe because I know that probably right now, my little siblings are born & growing older every day- alone. Sometimes we wish we could have everything our way, you know. But we can’t. Because of the curcumstances God has placed our family in, we cannot even begin to work toward having our little ones home. This is where we have to grow- grow to trust God better, trust that He will open those gates in His timing if it is His will for us to do this thing.

So here we are again, much like this time a year ago, and that is the theme of this post- the waiting part of adoption. It isn’t easy. It is so hard, so hard. Now, we’re just waiting to wait- which is extra trying. It will probably be a while before I’ll be posting any news here. I’m waiting for news too.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

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About Josiah’s adoption– pray that we will be able to finalise in February as planned.

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Mercy before the feast

What would have been on our cards if we had taken it on time

Jake & Josiah having a brother moment

add your own caption

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(the pitures in earliers post were a few from our family christmas feast & one of Annie, Jake & Mercy)

It wont let me type anything but the title or upload the rest of my pictures. Weird. December 29, 2008

 

Okay, so I’m starting to get the hang of this present thing December 20, 2008

Hi. Yesreday I got a present from someone in my fanclub at daddys work. At first, I didn’t know what they were trying to pull. I thought, what is this strange colourful bag? I was worried that it was some sort of trick to get me to take a nap. This is what I looked like:

I cautiously grabbed hold of the red paper. It made this cool crinkly sound. I wasn’t feeling sleepy yet, so I pulled on it a little more. Hmmm…. I was confused. This is what I looked like:

One of my fan club in my family showed me that there was something inside. It was TOYS. I thought, OK! This is cool! This is what I looked like:

I love this little rattle thingy. And the tissue paper, as I’m sure everyone knows, is the best. Someone tipped me off that there are more of these coming. All I can say is, bring ‘em on!!!

~Josiah

P.S. Yes, you see right. I’m wearing shorts at christmastime. What can I say, I live in the south.

Cookies & Candies & Snacks, Oh My! December 20, 2008

here are some pictures of the Christmas cookie decorating which went on at our house this morning:

Annie cutting out cookies

Sarah cookie-cutting

Mercy taking a short break from her cookies in order to insure that she looked good in the picture

When the ‘kids’ are older, cookie decorating gets way more precise. Especially if one is an artist. This is Jake decorating a cookie using a toothpick.

Sarah re-filling the icing gun

Hannah with her precision cookie decorating tools

We have been in the kitchen for 2 days! We took the little green island table out of the kitchen & replaced it temporarily with a 8-foot folding table to better fit our needs.

So Far (for Memaw & Papaws) we have:

christmas frosted cookies; ‘reindeer’ cookies; peanut butter cookies; ‘haystacks’ candy; hershey’s chunk cookies; toffee; about 5 gallons of chex mix; ‘people chow’ (desert chex mix); peanut butter chunk cookies; turtle candies; loaded chocolate-chip cookies;  sausage balls; cheese straws; chocolate suprise cookies (caremel filled!); pecan shortbread cookies, and more!

The Day after Thanksgiving… November 28, 2008

Thanksgiving this year was good & a bit sad. We didn’t get many pictures but here are a few:

Josiah on Thanksgiving

Macrae’s (2nd) birthday was actually on Thanksgiving day this year- here are some pictures of him with mr. Ron blowing out the candles on the cake Mercy made for him

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!!

November 27, 2008

Here we are- the end of another great holiday. I had a long post planned out & DID not expect to post tonight. But here I am- I have TIME for the post, but as it turns out I just don’t have the energy to write it. As we all end a day spent with family & friends, we must remember those who are just a little bit alone this year. I am NOT a fan of Third Day: to me, it’s ‘Jacob’s music”- however, this song is the exception. It was written by one of the band members when Christmas rolled around again & they still didn’t have a travel date to pick up their child (in China). We need to remember the families who have children ’somewhere else’ & were just not able to fly in time for the holidays- wether those families have a picture & a name of their child already, or maybe their child(ren) are just a dream in the hearts that they know will be coming (and maybe no one else knows yet). No matter where ‘they’ are in the process, it hurts when you have family-type gatherings & you know that there are child(ren) who are yours & they’re somewhere else, not with you, maybe crying, maybe laughing but you’re not there- you’re missing that. This time last year, Josiah was growing in his birthmom’s tummy and the dream of him was 5 days old (on the twenty-seventh) in our hearts. I know this has turned into a crazy rambling post which probably isn’t going anywhere, but I guess what I basically wanted to say is; everybody out there (you know who you are) who are wondering how long it will be until the child your heart has grown to love will be with you- one thing I learn through Josiah adoption is that it never goes fast enough. But I also learned that even if you don’t see it, God has a purpose in everything He does, and His will can never change. If God has a child for you, He will bring them to you in His perfect timing.

There is so much more I meant to post & I don’t think that turned out making much sense ^ I guess what I’m trying to say is, hold on to Him. ‘He knows the plans He has for you, plans of good & not of evil, to give you a future & a hope.’ He who promised is faithful to fulfill His promise.

It’s Christmas time again but you’re not home
Your family is here and yet you’re somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas

The search for the missing holiday continues… November 22, 2008

Mercy Riley, a local toddler, joins the fight for Thanksgiving to be restored in her family kitchen

ATTENTION RETAIL SHOPPERS: The search for Thanksgiving goes on, with mixed sucess. While we have found some clues- the turkeys displayed in the middle aisle of the meat section, the indian corn at the front of the store by the christmas tree-  our suspicions have been confirmed that the Thanksgiving holiday is, indeed, missing. As we drive through town, gazing out the window at all of the colourful lights & inflatable santas, my fellow reporters & I have a growing feeling that Christmas has something to do with the abduction. Don’t quote me on that, though- investigation is still underway.

 While the retail market seems to be ever striving to stifle this holiday, local families are still standing stong against the attacks. Miss Sarah Joy states that she would like to see Thanksgiving in the stores & decorating yards again. “Really, whatever DID happen to Thanksgiving?” she asked as she drove past ballard park. Later, my investigation took me to the home of a local toddler who says she loves the Thanksgiving holiday. “I tan’t wait til Thaksgivin’,” Miss Mercy Riley says “’cause Crae & aunt Mel’nie comin’.” Riley related how she would have fun with her Grandparents & mrs Teresa too. “Is Thaksgivin’ this Sadurday?” she asked.

Riley and Joy are just two of many people who say the Thanksgiving is alive and well. “It’s just not in the stores anymore.” They say sadly. 

 

Riley is an advid cook and is looking forward to the upcoming holiday with delight

Join the fight!!! Thank God for all of His bountiful gifts. Don’t just eat lots of turkey- take some time to consider how much you have to be thankful for. What a great reminder that every good and perfect gift is from above.

 

-From Channel 16 News, I’m Ellen Riley

 

 

I have been sick… December 28, 2007

Well… I have been sick… FOR A WHOLE WEEK!!!

Actually, it was six days… it felt like at least six months. This is the reason I have not worked on the blog lately.

 Today Momma and I went to the place in Pontotoc where we are opening our booth. I see that our booth is somewhat small, but I think that is actually a good thing: this way, there is less to fill up . No, really, I like making the overalls & helping Momma with the other products. I love being able to work at my house with the people I like most all around me. Where else could I have Hannah read “The Fellowship Of The Ring” to me while I work? Or have Mercy sit in my lap and ‘help’ (AKA, press every button and pull every lever she shouldn’t press or pull)? Anyway, next week I need to make Monkey overalls and a few pair Girl frogs to get ready for when we move into the booth.

We had a wonderful Christmas Celebration on Christmas eve… despite the fact that we were all sick. Momma gave Mercy one of those bags of 100 little plastic balls like a ball pit (we just put them in a Rubbermaid box) and she has been playing with it NON-STOP! She loves it.

“Hey Momma? I’ll take care of the Holiday leftovers!”

 

“OK, now THAT was yummy!”

Sarah BEGS me to come and play a game with her… I can not longer resist. However, I may write more tomorrow