MRI day...

The boys and I left for the hospital at 5:30am. to get registered, checked in for one day surgery, and down to MRI.  We knew the procedure for one of them wouldn't start until 7:30...so, we had Daddy meet us around 8:30 so that we could do "kid swap"...CJ comes out...Landon goes back. :-)

 True to form...Landon goes back smiling and came out smiling - after he woke up from the anesthesia (although, I don't have a photo of that)

 Bless his heart...he was TIRED before heading back...

And again...true to form, CJ milked it for all it was worth. :-)  He is such a cuddle bug!

We see the neurologist tomorrow for results....

Outta My Comfort Zone...

The bandit is headed in for his MRI tomorrow...

He loves accessories, but he wasn't so fond of the handkerchief on his face. :-)

This sweet little guy is also headed in for his MRI :-)

Please pray for them as they both are having their MRI's of their brain and spine tomorrow, and for their mama who isn't exactly in her comfort zone in hospitals....especially when 2 of her kids are being sedated.

After adopting one child, I quickly became aware of this crazy, "big" thing called the "adoption community"...those who have adopted, those who want to adopt, those who are in the process, and those who "advocate" for children.  Now, I am completely immersed in the adoption community, and I love it.  I am eternally grateful for the support and encouragement offered by all those involved in the adoption community.  I especially love those advocates who get the word out on individual children who need families.

To be honest, I don't have much extra time to blog or advocate....but this one precious little one has caught my eye, and I want her to find a family.  I recently read a post on No Hands But Ours that just broke my heart, but spoke the words that I feel at my core.  If you want to read it, go here - it is my heart.  At that link, you will see this precious little girl's photo.  She needs a family.  She needs a heart surgery...maybe many heart surgeries, I don't know.  I am not eloquent like my bloggy friends are, but I know that there are some amazing families out there who would be a life saver for this child...we have the doctors here that can help her, we have the resources - she is one of the fatherless, she is one of the weak, she is one that Christ has called us to help.  Could you be her family?  Don't just click the red X in the corner...pray about it.  Really pray about it.  What excuses will we have when we stand before the throne of the Almighty, and He asks..."What have you done for the least of these?"  For that reason, please don't ask our family if we are "done"...don't ask, "Do you know what causes that (a ton of kids)?"  don't ask, "Are you crazy?" don't ask, "Are you trying to save the world?"  We take our lives one day at a time...If He asks us to GO to Ch*na, we will Go.  If He asks us to adopt again, we (gulp) will.  If He asks us to just stay right where we are and fundraise for foster homes in Ch*na, we will.  But, we cannot stay stagnant...simply because of the 140 million little ones like the one pictured below.

Hair Cuts, Science, and Summer Fun...

I am finally getting around to posting some pictures.  The big boys have been gone all week on a missions trip...so, I am left without 2 of my biggest helpers.  I must say, though, that I am so, so proud of the boys.  We got to see them on Wednesday doing their presentations...speaking in front of tons of kids, and Drew got the awesome privilege of leading a kid to Christ.  They are having tons of fun and bringing glory to God - I couldn't be happier!

 Studying about the power of the suns rays...burning a hole in a leaf.  Drew told Maggie not to look at the sun because she wouldn't feel pain, but it could blind her.  She said, "Well, then, I would just put dirt in my eyes.  That's what Jesus did, and the blind man was healed."  I absolutely love the childlike innocence and faith.

 While studying Mars...Drew put together his team of Mars Mission Explorers.

 Luke's team chose to go without oxygen backpacks and helmets...they were going to kill wasps.  Nice.

And, finally...the little boys got haircuts!!

Well Done, Sweet Friend

I promise that there are pictures coming...the boys got hair cuts - so, so fun!

But for now, I just wanted to do a short tribute to my amazing friend and sister in Christ, Laura.  She fought the fight, she kept the faith, she pointed others to Jesus, and on Saturday night at 9:30 she met Him face to face.  I know that I know that I know that He said to her, "Well DONE good and faithful servant."  She suffered more than anyone I know and yet she always pointed others to His goodness and faithfulness and love.  She wrote letters to her children for all to read that hold more amazing theology than I have heard from many pastors...if you want to read them, go here (and click on the topic of "Journal" they are entitled "What I want you to know about...")...you will be inspired and challenged, I promise.  She always had words of encouragement for me even when my problems were far smaller than hers.  She was 37...she leaves behind 3 young children and one husband...please pray for them - can you even imagine the loss that they feel?

Life is short, folks.  Really short.  Make sure that you are living for eternity because our lives here are but a vapor.

Keepin' It Real...

Friday was a horrible, horrendous, terrible....(okay, that was a line in a book, and I can't remember the rest), but it was a bad day.  I am so thankful for every single one of my kiddos. Period.  No buts.  No exceptions.  Yet, I must say that when you are introduced to special needs as a mama that didn't have 9 months to prepare for things, research things (especially for a homeschoolin' - love to prepare mama) and you are dealing with a language switch, things can get just plain ole hard.  My boys are a thrill - I LOVE them, but I feel completely insufficient to provide all the care that they need sometimes.  My one biggest prayer has been - "Lord, may I give You glory in ALL I do."  Friday, I felt like I was bringing Him glory in nuthin'.  Absolutely nuthin'.

I have a friend, Laura (you may remember her from a previous post), who is battling metastatic breast cancer.  She is fighting for her life, big time.  Every step of the way, she has brought Him glory.  She has thousands who read her posts, and she always points them to the Savior.  People have come to Him through her.  Now, my little ole life is NOTHING compared to her's, and I don't want to even pretend that I am comparing them.  However, I couldn't help thinking, "Lord??  I SEE how Laura is bringing You glory.  I don't understand her suffering or pain, but I see how she is bringing You glory.  In my little ole corner of the universe, HOW is what I am doing possibly bringing You glory?  In all the little chores day in and day out, over and over and over again...HOW is it bringing You glory?"  I had to call Mike to pray for me.  I had to email a friend to pray for me.  There was no big shining moment of relief, but we made it through the day and even had some laughs and smiles. :-)

I say all this to say...as I lay in bed that night I thought and prayed again, "Lord, I am still not sure I get it, but I love You and I love my family.  That's it.  That's all I have."  And as I lay there in silence, He reminded me of a poem by Amy Carmichael that I used to have posted on my microwave...

"Jesus, Savior, doest thou see,
When I am doing work for Thee?
Common things, not great or grand,
Like carrying wood or stones or sand?

I did common work, you know,
Many, many years ago,
And I don't forget, I see,
Everything you do for Me."
- Amy Carmichael

So, moms of one, moms of many, moms of healthy kids, moms of not-so-healthy kids, anyone serving silently...the world may not see, but He sees, and somehow...though we may not understand...it brings Him glory, if it is done for Him.

When I Suddenly Realized That I am loosing brain cells...

I showed up to the pediatric dentist at 8 a.m. with all 7 kiddos, get everyone signed in, sit down, and think, "Yep, I got this.  We are doin' good."  The hygienist calls my gang back and as we head in, the receptionist comes around the desk, puts her arm around me and says, "Honey, the kids look great, and you are here on time.  It's amazing, but your shirt is on inside out."
Someone.
Help.
Me.
Please.