FLoating away

SOrry folks, we are actually fine.  We live at the top of a huge hill which is bad for hail, wind, and lightening but we stayed safe from the torrential rain that poured around us.

We were in Denver in the midst of the worst on the first day.  WHen the standing water is higher than the bumpers on the city buses you get scared.  Luckily, my sweet hubby was with me in the car.

THere are many hurting people and as the waters recede we are once again faced with hurting communities - those who need items, who need prayers, and our time.  We are currently figuring out that portion.

We are floating away in other ways though LOL!

When people say high school is busy - IT IS BUSY!

Our oldest is only a freshman but really hit the ground running with football practice everyday, games, FCA (along with leadership), working doing landscaping and all I can say is HE SO NEEDS his license.

Nevermind the other kids and all their activities!!

It's funny, although I joke about homeschooling, we really thought about it for a bit.  I mean between the paperwork, the lunches, the constant issues at school - there are parts that it jsut would be easier.

BUT . . . we also feel very strongly that part of our mission is to be front and center in our community.  Tao (our little fisher of men) makes adoption seem not so scary, I feel like we are leaving bread crumbs as we go, ok I pray they are pebbles and they survive but still.

THis is a decision that affects our entire family.  Our big kids get comments, and they are slowly learning to answer in godly ways that not only glorify Him but also plant those seeds.  We may never know the people we touch.

However a school who when the current principle walked into and asked who poured bleach into our almost exclusively white school, had to hire an ESL teacher this year.  I cheer when I see children of many colors AND more importantly differently abled.  CHildren who also come from larger families who understand the plight of the orphans as well as our calling to care for them.

THis decision and events surrounding it, makes us feel like we are on a raging river, not sure of where we are going but being pulled along by the currents.  We are solidly feeling like our life raft - the Bible - is keeping us a float.  Please would you keep us in your prayers for a bit as we navigate our way.

Got Armor!

My kids would answer the sky LOL!

Ok I have been remiss on updating where we are at as far as Griffen.

We are COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS!!

I am shocked we are here already but I THINK we are waiting on TA.

I say I think because our agency doesn't track the Article 5 like other agencies.

AND we again got smacked with another holiday (if you followed us last year we were constantly getting stuck by holidays!)

So, we were cabled on 9/21 (this is when we got our PDF from USCIS)

So we had all of the week of the 24th for our A5 to be worked on.
THen everything was shut down the week of the Oct 1st for Autumn Moon Festival.
Of course the consulate was also closed for Columbus day on Monday, Oct 8.

SO, were our papers dropped off on 24th and picked up on the 12th.

Or worst case dropped off 10/9 and will be picked up on 10/23.  Who knows 

CLEAR AS MUD LOL!  Basically, we are planning on Thanksgiving in China,

Tristan - my oldest is coming with me.  I really prayed for clarity in this decision since both kids have definite positives.  Now that we made this decision, I am so at peace.

We will probably be flying directly to Kunming and not sightseeing.

We are starting to get everything together for our trip and daddy staying home with the kids LOL!

BUT

Satan has been working overtime in our house.  It started with Chris's car accident and jsut has been coming left and right.  I feel like my Armor of God is constantly being pelted BUT you know I sure am glad I have that armor on.

The hardest part is our big boy also seems to be under attack.  Another proud moment when I explained Satan and adoptions - he said "MOM, I'm still going to China regardless."  I had once seen Armor of God coins and so wish I had bought them.  PLEASE, if you know where to get them can you please let me know.

So please pray a hedge of protection around our family,
Pray for Griffen's heart ~ and that he melds seamlessly into our family,
Pray for our Visa's which we still don't have,
Specifically, pray for Cav, who seems to be sensing the stress and has gone backwards significantly.


The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

                                                                      Ephesians 6:10-18

It Happened {Prayers}

We have now been home 7 months.

I had read that things like this happen but I didn't know how shocking and heartbreaking it actually could be.

Let me paint the picture.

Big boy is gone, which left 4 kiddos home.

All but Cav have summer camp this week,
so we have to hurry out the door even though it is summer - you know how it goes!

Everyone trying to get breakfast and clothes on.

Basically, it's mass chaos.

All of sudden we hear the unmistakeable sound of FeiFei crying.

She has a heartbreaking wrenching sound when she cries.  We have only heard it a few times, but the first night she came to us the sound became seared into my mind.

We thought she was hurt, but there she sat at the kitchen table, crying and eating her cereal.

Finally, she said "My China Momma not coming to get me!"  "You are my family"

Ugh stab to my heart.

7 months this sweet girl of ours has been 'on vacation' with our family, waiting for her China family to come get here.

7 months she has waited and then in the chaos of an ordinary morning she realized reality.

7 months we have fallen in love with her, and still her heart is in China.

We did talk and told her how much her China Momma loves her - in fact so much I don't think they prepared our FeiFei for the adoption.  All I know was that our sweet girl was supposedly sent back to the orphanage in September.  Apparently it was such a disruption they sent her back to her foster family until the morning she came to us in December with her bags full of candy, vitamins and food.

We also told her that just like we adopted Cav so he could see the Dr and have a future - we did the same for her.  Sometimes the words will just not come as easily I hope.

Please would you pray for our daughter's heart.

Can you see the underlying sadness in her eyes?

And just because we deal with stress through laughter.  We all thought it was hysterical that she said "You are my family" like are you kidding me - couldn't I have at least been sent to a normal, quiet family LOL!!

Now don't despair to much she is still the sweetest and happiest little thing.  In fact, she is so apply compared to other children we really have to keep an eye on her.

Gotta Watch

The main part of the video was taken just to the north of us.  The main part of the video you will see the Air Force Academy on the mid bottom right (the triangular building is the AFA chapel.)  Our home is directly across from AFA for reference.

This is absolutely the best I have seen of our reality of almost the past week.  It is shocking and also confirming as part of me wonders why I was so freaked for the past few days.

This is basically what we saw from our bedroom, our living room, and yard everyday for the last week.

Please continue to pray.

Where's the smores

Just kidding - but living in a giant campfire, I sure wish it was under different circumstances.
The overwhelming smell in and out of the house makes me really wish
I was spending a weekend with the kids and a huge pile of smores. -
ugh but I would have to go to the store
because I gave the graham crackers to Care & Share
ate all the chocolate I could find
and I'm not sure what my little angels have done with marshmallows while they have been cooped up in the house for days on end.

As for Colorado Springs -

This man is in charge and he is AWESOME! 

15% containment today

 THank you!

They had a cattle drive through the fire zone to save 43 cows

some with burns, 2 babies born, all safe

Socks were donated for the firefighters,

Care & Share has been inundated by supplies to make their job a little easier

A community will be forever indebted to these men 

working 16 hour shifts

sleeping on the ground

Saving our city!

We heard from a dear older friend who we have been worried sick about!

(Chapel at the Air Force Academy during firestorm on Tues)

~ Threw the kids outside - my China kids thought they were back in China LOL! (i.e. smog/ bad air)

~ Learned that Cav has enough english to tell me "Momma I broke cast"

~ Realized he also has worn the knee out of the other cast

~ The city held a meeting for those with homes in the burn zone

~ Atleast one fatality was discovered

~ 1/3 to 1/2 of the evacuees have returned home

~ We all continue to watch the hills

~ We mourned for and with members of our community

~ We are becoming tired of tripping over the bags packed in the front hall

~ Thrilled the kids were eating carrots until I realized that the home behind us rescued horses from the Air Force Academy - they are so excited for tomorrow so they can ride them! 

We see and feel the prayers from all over!

(this is the only pic that is mine)

346 Prayers TONIGHT

Please my friends, please will you pray tonight starting at 8 MST for the 346 families who will find out that their home is a complete loss.

We have a very good friend in this group and my heart absolutely breaks for them.

Praise - many of the evacuees are being allowed to return to their homes.

(not my photos)

Perspective & prayers

Tonight I mourn for a town that has been my home for almost 30 years.  I mourn for the tons of families we know who have been evacuated and MANY, MANY of them have lost their homes.  Homes, parks and even streets we roamed as kids are now all on fire.

AS I went to the Air Force Academy to get my children at 4:30 we saw the fire crest the last set of mountains  - for the rest of the evening we watched in horror as our town began to burn.

We also realized that as the winds continue and the fire ebs north towards the Academy - we better start getting our items packed.

As I video'd the house - I looked around at all of the CRAP!  A family of 7 (ok 8 cuz adoption paperwork was imperative to grab) could put their most important belongings in a few tubs, some backpacks and the rest could be left behind.  In a sad way it was eye opening.  So much stuff that has little TRUE meaning - even the priceless art projects I have kept over the years.  So much money we have spent on stuff that can be left to burn.  Think about it.

One of the blessings (and yes I realize we live in the Bible Belt of the west) has been the media's reference to prayer.  It saddens me that so much bad has to happen for people to remember who really is in charge.  Please continue to pray, tomorrow is supposed to be hot again and more winds.  So far no one has been hurt or died and that is our number one request for you to pray.

Our first view of the fire on Sat

2 hours later

Wildlife escaping to our neighborhood for refuge.

Tiny black dot below is a helicopter still dropping buckets of water.

Just at the corner of the house by the chimney - is the Air Force Academy Stadium

Prayers

Yesterday was tough and yet I feel like I can't even feel sorry for myself - safe in my home.

As I looked out upon the scenes below, I also found there was an earthquake by our sweet little baby.

One family, two "natural" disasters.

such feelings of helplessness.

Luckily, someone messaged me from our little guys region and they didn't even feel anything 

WOOSH - so relieved!!

NOW onto this one -

If you have followed our blog long, you know we live in beautiful Colorado and have the most incredible views of pikes PEak.

Unfortunately, this is our newest views.

winds are pushing the fire towards the Air Force Academy

Not sure if you can see the little dots up against those hills but all of those people have been evacuated.

My heartbreaks and I pray that this was not a purposeful act.

We are extremely blessed to live in a community where people sacrifice their lives to ensure our safety.

Folks, it is over 100 degrees out

The winds can be absolutely crazy

but 450+ firefighters are out digging trenches.

Brave men and women, flying planes 

risking their lives to save our community!

Please pray for their safety.

Praying for Ivy

There are some very extra - ordinary people in this world who take the ultimate leap of faith in adoption.  I know people look at our journey with Cav and his amputations and think - I could never.  Well, truthfully, heart issues are my - I never could.  

UNTIL, I met some very incredible people online and when we traveled to pick up Cav & Fei.  

THere are a very small number of moms who took the ultimate leap of faith and bring home the MOST beautiful little ones with broken heart.  

I'm not talking about small heart defects, 

but ones that when I was a nurse we would cringe at, knowing the prognosis.

It was these families courage and strength that ultimately gave us the 

courage to pursue baby Tao despite the unknowns.

This sweet baby is exactly ONE WEEK older then our Baby Tao.

Sweet Ivy already has had a laundry list of procedures.

We have prayed them through their surgeries and now I am asking you to pray along with our family.

This incredibly beautiful little one was almost lost during her first open heart surgery in March (shortly after coming to her forever family).  

Tomorrow, Tuesday morning she is having another open heart surgery to replace a leaking valve.

Please will you pray for her and her family.

Although Cav's surgery was no where near Ivy's, I know the peace your prayers brought to me.