Life's a Journey.... here's a glimpse of ours.

That's all we have, just a little bit of news. We have been on the roller coaster of adoption for almost one year now. Although we didn't commit to Barbara until September our journey started in July. The last week has brought a lot of information on our adoption, some good some not so good. But we are getting to the end and the paper work is crazy. Did I say the paper work is crazy? That is an understatement!!! We have paper work that needs to be overnighted and reach a destination by Tuesday. This paper work will not be in our hands until Friday at 6 pm.  Monday is a holiday, NO DELIVERIES. The person who is needing this paper work is only working on Tuesday next week.......she will be on vacation the rest. Did I say she is the one who is doing our clearance, the one I have been waiting for .... for 12 WEEKS! That's not all though; we have documents that need to be sign between two states. The two states will not sign. On top of all this there is a treaty being signed on July 15th between US and our children's country that may change all the rules!! So in  a nutshell will you please pray for all of this to move forward. I don't mean a casual prayer. We need serious prayer!! IT is time for our church to come together and pray.  I came along this scripture this morning as I armed myself with Gods word. Satan is trying to tare us down, He is working overtime to assure these babies stay in that place for as long as they can. He has put up barriers that are weak in the eyes of the Lord and with Christ we will continue to break them down.

Proverbs 4:10-13
 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.  I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.  When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.  Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

So the one bit of good news.... are you ready...... All, I mean ALL, of Matthew's relatives are in agreement!!! Praise God, Matthew is officially released for us to adopt!!

Posted in: on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at at 10:17 AM 3 comments    

It couldn't been more perfect for a day like today. This is the devotion that was in my email. Only God knew this is exactly what I needed to read. Our dossier is in transit in Moscow as I type. Our 1.4 lbs of paper work is going to be translated in the next week. It takes 40 hours to translate each dossier.
 
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Ask With the Right Attitude
by Rick Warren
“If you want to know what God really wants you to do, ask him . . . but if you don’t ask in faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.” James 1:5-6 (LB)


God wants to direct you in life, but two things need to line up: You have to ask the right person—God—and you have to ask with the right attitude—in faith—expecting an answer.
Have you ever asked God for something and didn’t expect to get it? That’s why you didn’t get it. God works in our lives according to faith. So many times we say, “God, please guide me!” and walk away not even waiting for guidance. We just immediately start to work. We say, “God, I want you to give me wisdom. Help me make the right decision.” But we don’t really expect Him to do that. We think it all depends on us.
God has promised to give us wisdom, if we will ask. Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions the way God makes decisions.
Think about this: God never makes a bad decision. He never makes a mistake. He says if we trust Him and listen to Him, He will guide us. But we must ask in faith.

So that is what I am doing! I am asking with faith. Do you hear that Renee Tam, Jenn Abell, Taryn, and Alicia we must ask in faith and anticipate and expect an answer. Please join me in prayer this week.

Father, we look at your plan and it is all based on love, not on our performance, and we pray that you'd help us to understand that. To be captivated by your love. To be overwhelmed by your grace. To come home to you in the perfect beautiful path that you've already carved out for us.You promised there would be faith and strength and hope to meet life's problems and we are holding onto that promise. Give strength to us who let anxiety, worry and fear bury our dreams. I am not only asking these things for me but I ask them for my adoptive families Renee Tam, Jenn Abell, Taryn Seybold, Alicia Fanz and so many more. I ask in faith that you send clearances, signatures, provision, and strength to all of us. We see your hands as far as the east is from the west. Put your hands and your arms around us and embrace each of us, Father.
In Christ name Amen

Posted in: on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at at 9:41 PM 3 comments    

I have been staring at this blank page for days. I have nothing to say nothing to type. I have no news and to be honest I am tired. I am tired of waiting. I know it is all under control, it has been since the beginning. I read Gods word that says His timing is perfect and that we should Wait patiently. Ecc 3:11 God makes everything happen at the right time. Yet none of us can ever fully understand all he has done, and he puts questions in our minds about the past and the future. Did you catch what I did? It says everything not just a few things but EVERYTHING! Thank you Jesus, because at this point in time I am holding on to that.
So we are still waiting. Waiting for our clearance that has been in the "Pending" stage for four weeks. I know it will come but it just isn't soon enough. I want to: order visa, plane tickets, pack bags, arrange care for our kids here at home, I want to fly over the ocean and most of all I want to hold our sweet babies. I am tired of looking at their photos. I want to feel them in my arms. I want reassurance they are cared with at least their basic needs met. I want to stop posting our needs for donations and start posting our family as one.
I could go on and on but no need to put you all through the same thing I put myself through day after day. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We sent our final paper work over (dossier)for translation so we can submit them ourselves into the courts on our first trip.  We need our clearance, we need court papers to be approved, and we still need $8400 to be fully funded.
We are near the end but I am beginning to feel like I felt when our son was 10 days over due. We are OVERDUE!!!

Posted in: on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at at 10:19 AM 1 comments    

Posted in: on Monday, June 13, 2011 at at 10:37 PM 0 comments    

We are taking leaps and bounds. On Monday we will send our second and final set of paper work to "R****a" (dossier). Although we didn't get our clearance yet, we are confident it will be here any day.  So we are hoping to travel the last week of June. We have gotten the final OK to come and most of Matthews relatives are in agreement to his adoption. They are confident by next week they will have all the signatures they need.
I am beginning to get that heavy feeling in my gut. The one where doubt and fear start to sit in. It only stays for a brief moment. I keep reminding my self of Gods promise.
God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28). It may be difficult for us to see and understand how this is accomplished at times, but God has promised it, and He will deliver.


I believe in that with all my heart. I know God will deliver his promise to us. So am praying for our grant to grow leaps and bounds. We have $9500 to bring us to the end. We have raised, saved and been blessed  for the funds of our first trip. We have most of the second trip but we are not there yet. So many of you have donated and I wouldn't want you to think we do not appreciate what you have done. I thank God daily for all of you. If you haven't donated and would like to be part of our journey we would be so blessed. This has been a year long journey full of ups and downs but to tell you the truth I can barely remember the downs. The miracles we have seen through our adoption and others have been absolutely immeasurable. We are trusting God to continue with his grace. We know the Hand and Feet of Jesus Christ will continue to be seen through all of you who are called to help. Please remember us in your prayer. Our sweet baby girl and boy need all of you to hold on to hope for them. We need you to continue to hold on to hope for us.
Praying for Leaps and Bounds.... for every aspect of our journey.
IF you feel led to donate please use one of the two buttons on our sidebar. Every dollar is appreciated but please mail any donation under $5 to us personally. Paypal fees are large with and amount under $5. our address is 382 Angle Road Lapeer Michigan 48446.

Posted in: on Friday, June 10, 2011 at at 9:28 AM 0 comments    

patterns will vary.

Theses little gems were donated for our give away.  Lizards Jewelry custom made by Liz Hall.  Retail value $70

Posted in: on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at at 11:16 AM 0 comments    

this with our babies. Friday I turned off the computer with all my adoption business, left the dirty laundry and house behind for three hours while Keegan and I headed to the park. We walked, played, sat and talked for hours.  We talked about the day we would bring the babies home. Keegan shared his excitement of the things he would do with them. He talked about all the things he would teach them and the things a big brother would have to do. These are the things our little ones will see once they are home. We have a beautiful little park nestled in our city. The natural surroundings are just gorgeous. Here are some snap shots of our day I thought it might be fun to share some other parts of my life besides our adoption. 

Berries with lunch, our favorite! Keegan and I wondered if the babies will like them.

I loved slides when i was little and still do:)

Something you may not know about me. I love the outdoors and nature.I love any kind of animals. Including this frog. He was just hanging outin the sun for hours. We saw him when we arrived and when we left.

Finding Poly wogs. Brought two home but only on is living still.

It funny these rocks are not that high, but I know some day when Keegan is bigger he will come back and remember them so much higher:)

New life was everywhere. We saw four turtles but usually we see five to seven all lined up on these logs.

Posted in: on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at at 10:59 PM 2 comments    

 My little ones have missed more than they should have.  They missed the comfort of their mommy coming as they cried in their crib. They were left to cry countless hours with no one to come rescue them. My babies here at home were never left to cry. Never did I want them to feel the loneliness of an unanswered cry. They have missed the joy of a daddy proudly saying "that's my baby", and a mommy saying "I love you" with every once of happiness.

Never have they felt the strength and safely of their daddy's arms.  Like little Harper here in her daddy's arms.

First Birthday Party like little one here? Nope not that either. They missed that one tiny candle glowing on top of their cake and that first bite of sweet frosting.

Never an empty box to play in, then have your mommy take a snap shot because you are all too cute. This is Varia she was an orphan but not no more.

Never been pushed so high on a swing that it takes their breath away, with giggles! This is Halie. I could go on and on with sweet photos of the babies I have came to love, via blog ;) but I must detach myself from this computer for today I have one seven year old just waiting to go to the park.  The fact is that another week has gone by that we are not with our babies, another week with no hugs from mommy and daddy. We will be leaving by the end of June and we need to raise less than $10,000 before our second trip, which should be around the end of June or beginning of  August. Please help us. I don't want to let Matthew go. I don't want him to live his life out in an orphanage. That is his reality. There are not many who will step into a region that cost over $40,000 to pay the ransom of a child.  But we did and we did this through Christ the only one who could give us $43,000 in less then ten months.   I want him to live up to his potential in our home. If you can spare just $5 this week we would be so blessed. I know I have asked a lot of all of you and I know you have been so generous but we are almost at the end of this journey. We are so close that I can feel them in my arms. Please help us so I don't have to let go. Way too many "I love You"s have been missed! Many Blessings Ann donation buttons on the right hand side. one is tax deductible and on is not.

Posted in: on Friday, June 3, 2011 at at 4:52 PM 1 comments    

If you want in on the camera its been moved to this blog to help this family http://www.thekramerfamilysite.blogspot.com/

Posted in: on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at at 9:48 AM 1 comments