Jada Video!

I hope this works. Scroll down and pause my music at the bottom of the page.

Introducing Jada

I try to keep my eyes on the waiting children lists for many reasons.  One because WHAT IF MY child is on a list? The child that we don't even know we need? Could happen. It HAS happened. One has to be SMART about these things.  Seriously, you just never know what God has for you if you are willing to ask and look!

The second reason is because of my Chenzhou babies. LOTS of babies who I know must certainly come up eventually.  I have waited to see them, PRAYED to see them. And FINALLY one is available that I can try to help find a home for!

I would love to introduce you to her. I would love for you to fall in love with her. I would love to help her find her mommy. She is waiting!!

This is Joyous Jada. (the blonde is Christy, part of Team Chenzhou!)

She is almost 2 years old.

She is listed as having weakness in her arm and leg. I think it is probably Cerebral Palsy.

 I am no doctor, but I would guess it is pretty severe. She did not sit, or bear weight on her legs.

But that is not who she is to us, not what defined her.

She is a fighter, look at her trying to pull up!

She is quite the little snuggle bug!

 And curious about us. Look at those lips! Don't you just want to kiss on them?

 Nothing sweeter than holding a sleeping baby!

And nothing harder than leaving her to lay on that flat bed. 

Truth is, a family is going to have to be prepared for the unknown with this sweet girl. As I think is the case with most adoptions. Or giving birth for that matter!  Reality is this baby girl has been in a crib most of her life, given maybe 2 hours per day. She has not had therapy, or even been encouraged to sit or support herself.  She was one of the driving reasons for our bumbo drive. The kids NEED those things, so they can have a chance at a future  Because really, how many of us are looking for an almost 2 year old who can't sit up? It is SCARY! To think of taking that on, well, not many would be able to to even imagine it.

But what if we could get PAST the scary part, and think of this sweet little soul. Who deserves SO.MUCH.MORE. than being stuck in a crib each day. Or propped in a corner. A baby girl. A LIFE created PERFECTLY by the Creator, who knit her together himself! Did He make a mistake? Of course not. He made her EXACTLY in His image and I believe He LONGS for her family to look past the scary and see the miracle. To look at this beautiful little girl and only see their daughter.

If you would like to know the specific agency that holds her file, please email me.

It is coming!

6 months.

26 weeks.

183 days.

4392 hours.

However you want to look at it, on July 6^th Team Chenzhou will head back to China! 

We will land in Shanghai where we will spend a few days getting back on our feet.

Then we will fly down to Changsha with a bus ride to Chenzhou. 

The kids are waiting. The nannies and staff are waiting. 

We NEED you! Plans are being made. Will you join us on Team Chenzhou 2012? 

So many children wait. The more we take, the more arms to hold babies. The more time we have to play with kids. The more love we can shower on the staff.

Yes, it takes money. Almost $4000.00.

Yep, it takes time. We are gone 2 full weeks.

It takes heart. And guts. And patience.

But oh how it GIVES so much more than it takes.

We go to change their lives.

Yet it is ours that are the most changed.

Would love to share with you how you can go, love, be forever changed.

Click here to apply.

One Word

I have heard this concept a few times and had been mulling over it. I am a big fan of January and the new promises that it can hold. I ENJOY making resolutions, lists of things that I AM going to change in this new year.

And typically by February, if not sooner, the lists are tucked away. I am back in the old habits and stuck right where I have always been.

So when I heard this idea about claiming a WORD, just one word, instead of a whole list of resolutions, it stuck in my head. It seemed so simple. To easy perhaps. Not enough details for me.

But the more I thought on it, the more I liked the idea. ONE word, that I could cling to each day. ONE word, from God, that could encompass exactly what it is HE wants me to change.

One word that could remind me to keep going. Not a list of things that I might fail at. Just one.

So I have been thinking, WHAT is MY word going to be?  I mentally went through my list of resolutions that I once again NEED to work on.  The usual never ending list that I can't seem to get on top of. I tried to come up with a word that could cover ALL of that list. Self Control was certainly up at the top. Patience. Grace.

But it was clear the Lord was not giving those to me.

And so I waited, and He did.

My word for 2012 is....

Awake

Websters defines Awake :

  1: to cease sleeping

2: to become aroused or active again

3: to become conscious or aware of something <awoke to the possibilities>

And what does the Bible say about the word Awake?

Ephesians 5:14
For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.


Psalm 17:15

As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You].

 Psalm 119:148
My eyes anticipate the night watches and I am awake before the cry of the watchman, that I may meditate on Your word.

 Matthew 26:41
All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Revelation 3:3
So call to mind the lessons you received and heard; continually lay them to heart and obey them, and repent. In case you will not rouse yourselves and keep awake and watch, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know or suspect at what hour I will come.

 And then some quotes that struck me...

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens. 
Carl Jung

the best dreams happen when you are awake.

Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake.   Thoreau, Henry David

I think there are many reasons awake is MY word He gave me.  I want to be AWAKE for so many things, in so many areas. I am pleading with the Lord to awaken my soul to HIM and what He has for me this year.  To keep me AWAKE (fully present) for the moments I have with my children. To let my heart AWAKE to things I need to change.  To STAY awake more because if you know me, you know I LIKE my sleep! 


I am excited and anxious to see how the Lord reveals and uses this word through out 2012. I have also asked the rest of my household to claim a word, and that they would be in prayer and let the Lord give them their word.  If you would like you can check out one of the sights I read about this idea.
And then what really pushed me was reading about it on my friend Lori's blog here. 


Awaken 2012!