Feliz Navidad

Baby doesn't like Santa too much. LOL love this.

May each and 
every one of 
you be blessed 
to spend Jesus' 
birthday with 
loved ones!

The G Series: Giving

MY CHRISTMAS LIST

This year is different. I know some of you may be thinking you already give to other charitable organizations, why another? My family does gifts in each other's name to World Vision among others. But as I've become more involved in certain causes this year, I'm asking you to consider also giving to the children of Uganda or Haiti. Since I am dear to your heart, and they are dear to my heart, they are like an extension of me :-) And how wonderful to know that I will be there to personally give and to be able show you how your gift has been put to use. This is not in lieu of other donations, just in place of a gift to me! Just think: no trips to the mall, no scouring the internet, no wrapping, no wondering what I want, LOL you get the idea.


Many of you know about my involvement with different orphanages and ministries. Last April I had an amazing opportunity to go to Uganda. That Vision Trip was focused on checking out possible care points and places in need of sponsorships. Now this spring I am so blessed to take a team on a volunteer trip back to a particular town and orphanage that a friend of mine and I are personally working with Children's HopeChest to support.


Our team will focus on the children who have been effected by the loss of their parents through the HIV virus and war. We will be traveling to Uganda to help rebuild a kitchen and to bring encouragement to the people of that area. Having met these children almost a year ago, I'm very anxious to see what has been and will be accomplished.


Before April comes around again there are a few things I need to do. 

• First, as always, there's a lot of mental, emotional, and spiritual preparation. And this time there is a lot more detailed work in planning and leading the trip.
• Second, I would like to gain a prayer partnership with those of you that support me and are compassionate towards the cause. 
• Third, I need to raise financial support to finish the well (currently being built) and to build the kitchen (we will work on while we are there). The cost of each is approximately $10K. 
• Fourth, I'm also looking for $3K additional for travel and ground fees in Uganda (this is per person and there are others with gifts to share who would like to go and are in need of financial support as well). The trip to Haiti will be about $1500 total.

I'd like to invite you to consider being a part of this opportunity along with me. There are still a few spots left to join the group (contact me if interested). Your prayer support means so much. And any amount of financial support you feel impressed to give will be put to great use for these children and their surrounding communities.


You can donate via PAYPAL button on the right side of my blog. Below I've also included a response card that can be mailed to my home address. Contact me to have the PDF file emailed to you or for other options. And for those of you who would prefer to donate to the efforts I continue to do in Haiti, I will be serving there the first part of January and hopefully back again in Feb, May or Aug (or all of the above:)). If you have a preference, please just indicate where you'd like the donations to go.


Regardless of whether you decide to support me thru prayer and/or financially I want to thank you for your time. May you and your family have a blessed holiday and continue the blessings thru the New Year!

LOvE, @

And as God’s stewards, giving decisions are simply a matter of 

thinking through how He wants us to allocate His money.

Isaac's health update

Since my last visit, my prayers have focused much more on one realization: my baby is getting older and I desire so much for him to do so with me. I want to give him the one-on-one attention and interaction he deserves. His life, just like all of ours, is in His hands. I have faith that it will all be fine, but as a mama I just want the very best for him always.  


Kervenson (Isaac) recently went to the doctor. He has been shaking his head quite a bit, especially when sitting alone and when there is a lot of commotion around. She thinks it's a habit kind of like sucking his thumb. (A self-stim behavior). She did not think it was a neurological disorder, but encouraged his caregivers to make sure that he gets lots of extra attention, as he doesn't usually do it when he is focused on something.  


He was also evaluated by the psychologist (he needs these evaluations for his file as well) and just got that report back this week.  She feels that it could be neurological, but isn't sure so she recommended a neurological consult to get another opinion. They will try to schedule that within the next week. On his psych. eval. he tested at 1 year, 3 months instead of 1 year, 6 months. This does not worry me too much bc as many of you know children are behind by own development standards in these types of environment and in developing countries. His issues are that he is not walking or holding a cup to drink by himself yet... (although he did the cup thing fine with me :) ). She recommended the same thing as the doctor... Lots of 1 on 1 attention. And thought that he would catch up quickly with that.


His recent cold/cough is gone and Chris has been giving his meds AM and PM. She is having the girls bring him up to the balcony in the afternoons so they can meke sure he gets lots of attention :)  The upstairs at the "O" is where Chris and Hal eat, sleep, and care for their own kids as well as those with extra special medical needs and new additions. It makes me feel so much better to know he'll get the extra attention and LOVE. 


Please continue to PrAY pRaY PrAy!

Before I was a Mom

Author: Unknown

Before I was a Mom I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put them down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom - I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

Paperwork Update

I may have been approved in MOFA in September, but the files are not yet in IBESR. (Steps here) Kervenson's paperwork is not ready yet. Sad day. He should be going to the doctor today.

Mandado Del Cielo

baby Tasha, Kevenson's niece

one of HIS homes newest additions

   

Not flesh of my flesh

Nor bone of my bone,

But still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
You didn't grow under my heart,
But in it.

lookin fresh ;)

bedtime... playtime... same thing

Few cute shots of Isaac with Gma and Gpa

here.... in PAP

it's beautiful in november, 85 degrees and a nice breeze. isaac is beautiful :) and gma and gpa have just made it here safely too. much love to everyone at home.

butterflies and tummy turns

     
that's my nice way of saying being sick... i hate to post sad things on here. but there are lots of worries and prayer concerns out there. too many to name and number. i'm usually a glass half full kind of a girl, but have decided that adoption is TOUGH! yes, i already knew this... and so is caring about so many people, and children, and projects to help those in need.


so i've always had a propensity to do daring, exciting things. and then later been reminded that my body, more specifically my stomach, doesn't like it! some examples of things i have been nauseous during and/or after:
glass bottom boat ride in Jamaica
desert safari in Dubai
a whole slew of medications
driving up mountains anywhere
flying in B52 fighter jets
spinning rides, those dang teacups are the worst!
bus rides thru africa (or anywhere with questionable roads)
skydiving over the Swiss Alps
but now you can add worrying about Isaac to the list. i guess my feelings are all tied up in my tummy.

Moments

HAPPY MOMENTS, PRAISE GOD.
DIFFICULT MOMENTS, SEEK GOD.
QUIET MOMENTS, WORSHIP GOD.
PAINFUL MOMENTS, TRUST GOD.
EVERY MOMENT, THANK GOD.


This pretty much sums up how i'm feeling. Lots to do, lots to pray about, and lots to be thankful for. I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

New Pic

sometimes i just love technology! thanks to the group site on snapfish a team that took formula to the orphanage posted a bunch of photos from this month! look at his face hahahahaha xxxxxxxxxxxx love him!

Who Made Your Bag?

MEND is designed to seam a personal connection between products, their creators, and you. MEND is proof that what we wear can- and will- make a difference. 

Who made your bag?


Shop Invisible Children Products HERE and help make a difference in Northern Uganda!

Prayers for Another Person I ♥

I thought i'd write a quick update about my girl, Marie-Louise (Mellis) Casey. As some of you know she was in a coma the better part of 2006 and has been struggling with a difficult recovery since late that year. Her husband, Kowin, went to a Blue Valley school just like i did. The two of them have a little boy named Nils. Because of our broken health care system here Mellis ended up moving back to Sweden, where she's from, hoping for better results.

We have emailed and spoke some, but she doesn't have a computer at home. Last week she sent me a letter (with photos:) and I keep thinking about how hard it must be for her. My heart aches for my son who is far away and i know she feels the same. The doctors have decreased her meds from 36 pills/day to 16 and it is difficult to say the least. She is also going to start on some new medications and has made more progress in 9 months there than she did in 3 years here in the States. Her seizures have decreased and her relationship with the Lord has been strengthened. 

Although many of you have not met her, she is a wonderful person and a dear friend of mine. She cried with me the day that Big got his visa and i cried with her in ICU too many times to count. Please keep Mellis, her mother, and the Caseys in your prayers for me too. ♥

Prayers and Support for People I ♥

There are a few people that I am close to that I'd like all of my loved ones and followers to support in any way they can and to keep in their prayers. I truly believe in lifting one another up and want to make an effort in putting that into action. 


So often we repost jokes, tweets, photos, etc... we should treat the other harder, deeper, or more serious content the same. These lives and stories have been an inspiration to me and to others around them. 


First, is my sister. She has been volunteering and working both in Haiti with Dorothy Pearce at Faith Hope Love Infant Rescue and with Much Ministries in Waynesville, GA. I am hoping to visit there in October this year:) Please check out the web site for either of the organizations or her blog. The stories and the work never cease to amaze me. It is such a blessing in my life to read about and experience some of these things after dealing with so much selfishness and negativity in the world.


Second, is Mrs. Colleen Drury. I have an enormous amount of respect for this woman... and her oldest daughter is one of my bestest. Colleen is experiencing a recurrence of ovarian cancer and all I ask is that my biggest supporters include her and the Drury family in your prayers. She is very strong and hoping to be a part of a clinical trial at the AZ Cancer Center. You can read and see photos on their blog site Meet The New Super Woman. PS. Nicole & Billy are now expecting their second baby so pray for a healthy and happy pregnancy. 


Love you all ♥♥♥
@

NEWS!

this morning i got this email from my lawyer. praise god. soon i'll be moving into 2nd legal (refer to the post about all the steps to go thru and timeline). so this is big also because i don't meet the minimum age requirement. please continue to pray for us. 

Hi Amanda, This is to confirm that all the documents received from you have been legalized by MOFA. The clerck of Justice of Peace will bring me the PVA signed by the judge before the end of this week. Sincerly Ketlie T. Woolley

Divorced Single Parent

...No never been married... But sometimes i feel like a divorced parent. I think about Isaac so much and when I go places like Disneyland, a baseball, soccer, football game, or walk by (or thru) a toy store, or ride in a helicopter i think about him. Then naturally i want to buy something for him. I really don't want to spoil him. I want his demeanor to be more like the children he lives with now in Haiti who are content with simple things. I'm torn. I understand the divorced parent who wants to buy material things for their kid to make up for lost time. What a strange feeling. Nothing can substitute for time. Quality is NOT always better than quantity.
The single parent thought is that i can see how hard it is for single mamas and daddys out there. You have to be the parent and the friend. The good guy and the bad guy. Life is about balance and i want to provide the best for my baby♡

August Family Visit