tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17413570991886622172024-02-19T01:43:02.468-08:00Already in Our Hearts, Someday in Our ArmsRuthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-64400334017804684642014-11-30T15:46:00.002-08:002014-11-30T15:46:58.819-08:00A month in pictures.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What we've been up to--the days are flying by......</div>
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<i>Lots of arts and crafts fun...</i></div>
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Lots of new experiences-----</div>
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<i>Meeting Grandma and Grandpa....</i></div>
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<i>Pumpkins...</i></div>
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<i>Fun with friends who are adopting too...</i></div>
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<i>This girl <b>loves</b> the bathtub....</i></div>
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<i>Snowmen made from our first snowfall....</i></div>
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<i>Vaida losing her first tooth..</i></div>
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<i>Enjoying hot chocolate.. </i> </div>
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<i>Having fun with a peanut ball, a couple of beanbags, </i></div>
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<i>a weighted blanket and a handful of blankets---</i></div>
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<i>luckily no broken bones...</i></div>
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<i>Fun in the snow...</i></div>
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<i> Our first Thanksgiving! So thankful for these two sweet girls:)</i></div>
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<i>The kids tables :)</i></div>
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We are seeing the girls blossoming more and more. Sima loves her grandparents and cries when we have to say goodbye. Vaida is learning so many new skills---lots of fine motor skills. She is a hard worker and willing to do whatever her OT asks. It is fun to share so many new experiences with them! We are truly blessed!<br />
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Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-48145717293506326452014-10-26T05:25:00.000-07:002014-10-26T05:25:58.879-07:00Love....We heard many times before we began the adoption journey that children from hard places need more than love to heal.<br />
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I've been thinking about this a lot lately...<br />
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Does this all depend on what our definition of love is? What does He say about love? <br />
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<i><b>We love because He first loved us. </b> 1 John 4:19</i><br />
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<i><b>For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life. </b> </i> <i>John 3:16</i><br />
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<i><b>This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. </b> 1 John 3:16-18</i><br />
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<i><b>My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.</b> John 15:12-3</i><br />
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What is love??<br />
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From 1 Corinthians 13:4-8<br />
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<i><b>Love is patient, love is kind.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preservers.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>Love never fails.</b></i><br />
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We've learned so much more about what real love is---laying down our expectations of how we thought things would be and accepting and embracing where we are at as a step in the journey of healing for our girls. Love is trying to view things that happen through the eyes of our girls--the limited experiences that they had with so many things and the many hard and traumatic experiences that they did experience and how those things changed their view of people, life, trust, and fear. Love is always trying to remember that our girls won't act their "age"--that an adoptive child is often at about half of their age behaviorally, cognitively, and emotionally when they come home.<br />
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Love is being humbled and realizing that even though we are experienced parents, God is teaching us that this isn't about us and our success or ability to raise decent kids--this is about Him working through us to show His unconditional love for our girls--for them to see and understand the love of their Heavenly Father through the hands and feet of an earthly mother and father (and sisters and brothers). Love is realizing that "downtime" and "me time" and so many other things focused on what I want can be given up---often for an opportunity to connect or love on two precious girls who are experiencing "me time" and "focused attention" for the first time in their lives. <br />
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Love is seeing the joy of playing peek-a-boo and "This Little Piggy" with your girls---the nightly snuggling up time with Vaida, stroking her hair while having her sweet body cuddled in my arms and thinking about the many, many nights she slept alone. Love is giggling with Sima under the covers about the goofy and silly things that happened and having her give kisses and sigh a contented sigh.<br />
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Love is experiencing the joy and thrills of so many new things for our girls--splashing in puddles, raking leaves, finding caterpillars and bugs and holding them, making sure the cats have a full bowl of food, eating marshmallows and hot dogs roasted on the fire.....<br />
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<i>Hope Sima's dentist never sees this! She just got lots of dental work done---</i></div>
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<i>marshmallows aren't the best for her teeth but oh so fun......</i></div>
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Love is trying to help your children work through how to deal with anger, how to share and take turns, how to calm when their bodies start to get overwhelmed. Love is hearing your child say more and more words and understand more and more of a new language. Love is seeing how brave your little ones have been as they have had all they have known taken away from them and adjusted to so many new things.<br />
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<i>Our first hike at a nature center--with Hazel. The girls had such fun--</i></div>
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<i>Sima lost her boot in some mud. So many firsts!</i></div>
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Love is having Him help you realize more and more what your daughters' day-to-day life was like--what they did and didn't do, what they had and didn't have, what they experienced and never experienced--and how all of those things have shaped how they view us, a family, and the world.<br />
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<i>Helping haul wood at Baba's house. </i> </div>
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Love is realizing that some days you can only love with His strength and you are tired but He fills you with what you need. Love is recognizing that you are a work in progress and some days have no clue how to respond to things that have happened and why they happened but trusting that He will reveal what you need to know. Love is making mistakes and knowing you are forgiven.<br />
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<i>A breakfast of brown bread--we call it snakus (which means garlic). The girls had this at their orphanage as a treat--sliced up rye bread fried in oil with fresh garlic rubbed on it. They both love to rub on additional garlic. They were so excited to have this "comfort food"! Precious!</i></div>
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Love is the feeling deep in your heart when you gaze at your precious new daughters sleeping---praying that they will feel they have worth and know they are treasured and loved by God and by their family.<br />
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Love is telling your daughters that they are loved--by you, your family, and by God--that they are precious, of worth, beautiful, special, funny, kind, loving, gentle and loved deeply. Love is trying to fill them with words of hope. Love is trying to help your daughters understand what the word "love" means---the deep love of a family for each other.<br />
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<i><b>Love is extravagant in the price it is willing to pay,</b></i></div>
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<i><b>the time it is willing to give, </b></i></div>
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<i><b>the hardships it is willing to endure </b></i></div>
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<i><b>and the strength it is willing to spend.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>Love never thinks in terms of</b></i></div>
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<i><b> "how little"</b></i></div>
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<i><b>but always in terms of </b></i></div>
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<i><b>"how much".</b></i></div>
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<i>Joni Eareckson Tada</i></div>
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<br />Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-32545811160136649592014-10-13T21:02:00.000-07:002014-10-13T21:02:12.130-07:003 months home....How hard it is to believe we've been a family for three months. In ways, it seems like so much longer!<br />
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Lots of full days lately--and a full heart. Such a blessing to see the girls growing and blossoming.<br />
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<i>Sima loves finding bugs---a caterpillar this day....</i> </div>
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<i>Going to check the chickens (in their pajamas)...</i></div>
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<i>Running barefoot across the gravel driveway....such a joy to see Vaida running!</i></div>
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So many thoughts I want to share about "love" and a child who was institutionalized...<br />
soon hopefully....<br />
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<i>Sima loves helping with leaves....</i></div>
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<i>Vaida was pushing her baby around for a ride and decided to try out the doll stroller.....</i></div>
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<i>Sima was so proud to make her own plate of "chips and cheese"...</i></div>
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<i>Sima loved spending time with Baba...the true joy of a Grandma!</i></div>
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How blessed we are to call Sima and Vaida our girls...God is good!</div>
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<br />Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-39677414738222120462014-10-02T22:33:00.000-07:002014-10-02T22:33:00.721-07:00Family....Love to see our girls beginning to understand more and more what a family is--<br />
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<i>Shoulder rides--</i></div>
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<i>Playing games together--</i></div>
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<i>Dancing and singing..</i></div>
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We are still cocooning and seeing the importance of it. So many thoughts about how children from hard places need that time at home--hoping to do a post on it soon. <br />
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Adoption is about loss--loss of so much for our two precious girls. They have been hurt through relationships and their healing will come through relationships. We have seen that loss shown in many different ways in the last three months--many of the ways not things most people would see as an expression of fear or trauma/neglect. <br />
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So thankful that we serve a God of restoration. We are so blessed to see first hand the beginning of understanding of family and forever--seeing our girls beginning to work through their coping strategies and learn so many new things. <br />
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Grateful that as we continue on this journey, God will continue to provide all we need--that what we are doing will be done through His strength and with His wisdom. Praying for healing. Thanking Him for the continuing to help us see what is important and keeping us on our knees. Thankful for His adoption of us and seeing so many similarities.<br />
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Asking Him to help us throw off those things that hinder and recognize the sin that is entangling us. Asking Him to help us keep our eyes fixed on Him and His desires and to run with perserverance--<br />
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<b><i>Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.... </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Hebrews 12:1-2</i></b></div>
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<br />Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-51831874592843345252014-09-16T19:29:00.000-07:002014-09-16T19:32:23.103-07:00Our idea of "heavy work"...Many adoptive children struggle in one way or another with their sensory system. One (of many) suggestions for activities to help a child regulate is to have them do "heavy work"--to push, pull, or carry heavy items.<br />
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At our house, this was our "heavy work" last week--<br />
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Yup, got three of the kids' sensory work in. Vaida was just along for the ride. Don't worry, the engine was off, and we were watching carefully:)<br />
<br />Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-29199227936400851602014-09-09T21:06:00.002-07:002014-09-09T21:06:56.829-07:00What we've been up to....We've been busy starting school and trying to get into a routine during our days. Truly, Sima and Vaida's school for this year is Family 101---learning so much about trusting and feeling safe. <br />
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Our first day of school we have always had a treasure hunt for the kids' backpacks with clues and surprises in the backpacks. I never thought it would be tradition that the kids would look forward to--but they do so each year I try to stump them with clues and have some fun surprises.<br />
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Another day we went for a nature color walk (with backpacks!)--<br />
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And some painting after reading <u>Mouse Paint</u> to Sima and Vaida-<br />
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We are starting to get into a groove with school. It is fun to see how the girls are liking different things and great to see them continue to grow and change before our eyes. Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-30175784507372273972014-09-01T18:55:00.001-07:002014-09-01T18:55:07.822-07:00The beauty of a family.....This week was an interesting one. The day after I posted my last post was one of the most challenging ones I've had since we got home. We can see the girls attaching more and more and with that, testing us in ways. And Wednesday was a day full of struggles for one of our treasures. <br />
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We knew from our reading and preparation before we adopted that living in an orphanage can result in certain behaviors--but to see them acted out is very different from reading a book. And seeing actors on a video act out how to correct can be very different than "doing it" in real life:) Let's just say the lines don't always go as planned! <br />
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Bill and I discuss things that come up, turn to friends and family for prayer, and spend time praying over our current approach and if we should change it. On Thursday we decided to try a new approach with one issue that has become a real stumbling block in our house. And we have seen changes happening--praise God! Not at all the way we had planned it but so thankful to see some progress. <br />
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Saturday morning I was in the midst of a struggle over bubble gum and eating toast with one of our girls and could see things escalating quickly. The volcano was close to erupting! And in walks Jenny on her way to work. She asked what was going on and said to her sister in a very matter-of-fact way, "What are you doing? Just eat your toast. Mom is letting you have a piece of gum after--why would you be so silly about eating your toast first?"<br />
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Her sister bounced out of the chair, grabbed her toast, ate it and smiled. Then she proceeded to chat with Jenny before she left (while enjoying her bubble gum). I was sitting with my jaw on my lap trying to process what had just happened. I had been trying for almost twenty minutes to diffuse the situation through playful engagement and even a compromise--and Jenny eliminated the problem within a minute (I had prayed earlier when things were ramping up). The power of an older sister--what an answer to prayer!<br />
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Such a blessing to have so many different personalities in this place we call home. As our precious Sima and Vaida begin to grasp what a family is and how people in a family interact, love, forgive, share, play, cheer each other on, and comfort each other, I am thrilled to see how God has prepared each of us for this journey. I am filled with a sense of peace seeing our teenagers interact and seeing their tenderness and playfulness. My heart rejoices seeing their realization of the true worth of their new sisters---discussions of what their lives were like and would have been like if they weren't adopted and our hopes and dreams for them. Giggles and laughs over cute things the girls say or do (we all love to hear Vaida humming when eating food she likes and truly get a kick out of Sima's dancing and singing--she is learning more and more English through song!)<br />
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And to see how each day the younger four grow closer and closer. How they are becoming not only siblings but friends. To hear prayers from Nate and Ellie for their younger sisters, thanking Him for their new sisters. And to hear sweet Sima pray too---we can understand the "Dear God" and "Amen" and "chocolate", "ice cream", "coffee":)--says that for Mom's sake, "gum", "banana" and "apple"--our girl likes sweets!<br />
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A year ago when we told people that we were adopting, we had some question us about our other children. I think every family has to look at their own situations, their children and their needs, and spend time in prayer to see if adoption is right for them--and the time is right. I had written up a post last fall called something like "what about your other kids?" but decided not to post. I know some may feel that adding two more children, especially children who will need time and attention to learn things, may not be the best for a family. Bill and I felt adoption was the right decision for our family, all of our family. We have all had to stretch ourselves at times and put what we would like to do aside--something that will prepare our children for "real life" with a spouse and family. <br />
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We are so thankful that our children are able to try to empathize with Sima and Vaida as they adjust to a new life, everything in their lives having changed. We are thankful for an opportunity to help them learn compassion and service, two things that truly only grow through action. One can read all kinds of books to your children about compassion and service and talk until you are blue in the face but <i><b>doing</b></i> is learning. We are very thankful for all of our kids' support with our decision.<br />
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Thanking God today for every person He has in this family and what each ones bring to the beautiful tapestry called family. And how He can answer prayer through a big sister's words!<br />
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<i>The night we got home.....</i></div>
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<i>Sima loves going for rides with Joe!</i></div>
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<i>Sisters forever...</i></div>
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<i>Waiting for Dad to come home from work...</i></div>
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<i>First time on a slip and slide:)</i></div>
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<i>Fun to walk down a slip and slide...</i></div>
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<i>And giving it a try with Dad's help...</i></div>
Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-53599634396849351272014-08-26T21:59:00.000-07:002014-08-26T21:59:11.703-07:00They are worth being loved like crazy....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Bill and I are so thankful that we attended the Empowered to Connect conference with Dr. Karyn Purvis. I guess you could say we are groupies! Our church's orphan ministry has all of her teaching materials, and we now see just how important it was to spend time reading and studying before we added the girls to our family. <u>The Connected Child</u> and our study workbooks from the ETC conference can be found by our bedsides with sticky notes and bookmarks in them--often read in three minute increments. As we walk through this journey of parenting two "children from hard places", we are grateful to have such terrific resources. Even though we studied it all before we left, "real life" presents a much different picture.<br />
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<i>She LOVES the water in any form!</i></div>
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<i>And we are all loving Aldi's ice cream treats!</i></div>
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Just as reading all the books on parenting and babies before we had Jenny prepared us in some ways, so often, real people are much different that what books describe. Although we had ideas of what our girls would be dealing with (things that all adoptive children do), we didn't know some of the things they have experienced and some of their personality traits that have developed with years of being institutionalized. All the reading in the world can give us much knowledge, but Bill and I have truly learned with parenting all of our children that wisdom comes from God (and not always in our timeframe).<br />
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There are many things we know about our girls past, some we knew from the beginning, some we learned in country, some we learned in court, and some we have learned since we have had them home. And there will always be things we will never, ever know---things that have affected them in deep ways within their hearts and souls. But God.....He knows. He knows all they have experienced and endured. And He will show us what we need to do to help them heal--He is faithful and His love for the fatherless is so much more than our love for Sima and Vaida. <br />
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<i>They are "painting"with water--next summer we'll use the real thing!</i></div>
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One thing that Dr. Purvis stated again and again is to look at the belief behind the behavior. So often it is fear driving behavior, fear of things we have no concept of in our lives---lives in which we have both have parents who loved, protected and cared for us. God has opened our eyes in so many ways, and the eyes of our other children. They have seen and heard things that we don't usually allow in our home and have seen two little girls become much gentler and two girls beginning to realize, even just in a very small way, what "forever" and "family" means. We have seen our girls "soothe" themselves in ways that make me want to weep---thinking of all the times they were alone comforting themselves. We have seen what a caring sister Sima has been for Vaida, something that God put deep within her as this wasn't modeled to her---how she has looked out for Vaida. Thanking Him for that as we know it has helped Vaida in ways we can't imagine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_KKkwewqslmeNouYCKo2_sc5-PGBrIXHJznk1EwvvG4Boh-StwHpAWGmIsM0z3KD8chBBoGpOF1IEF8eD8pqKIibAFAm7MgbcDNy5q2sL1xjIl1aYCvDW_Ef5dtXfcY242f3-gKT9C_O/s1600/DSC_0798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_KKkwewqslmeNouYCKo2_sc5-PGBrIXHJznk1EwvvG4Boh-StwHpAWGmIsM0z3KD8chBBoGpOF1IEF8eD8pqKIibAFAm7MgbcDNy5q2sL1xjIl1aYCvDW_Ef5dtXfcY242f3-gKT9C_O/s1600/DSC_0798.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i>Our Lithuanians love potatoes! </i></div>
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<i>Vaida peeled the skin off this cold leftover baked potato and started snacking!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxw8P29fVKXwoyLelv8nG0eugI9txMMgie-Hb3vKKY-62r9YYTBIhlAKEXarCWvi4w5iCAwwt55_GocF_T8TfXcqw9TYAK7Gi3Rp6nY8GeZJd3lMv6qgqRPbgeUMh5rj3D6QQWwUc-Bqs/s1600/DSC_0891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxw8P29fVKXwoyLelv8nG0eugI9txMMgie-Hb3vKKY-62r9YYTBIhlAKEXarCWvi4w5iCAwwt55_GocF_T8TfXcqw9TYAK7Gi3Rp6nY8GeZJd3lMv6qgqRPbgeUMh5rj3D6QQWwUc-Bqs/s1600/DSC_0891.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i>And they love pancakes! And big spoons!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jBonYOGS2HNMh6fW7Om1i7xKXBvFkpiTKL_fnLI6L3BCNQCE5sHrGWy7ZEdQzpsisWWCQ3WvovhiSd9uGESOYUq_4Byw94-A84r6sYPUjM4q-zjHNEajxbGJC1oqbJrPcoVPDgnMfQev/s1600/DSC_0895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jBonYOGS2HNMh6fW7Om1i7xKXBvFkpiTKL_fnLI6L3BCNQCE5sHrGWy7ZEdQzpsisWWCQ3WvovhiSd9uGESOYUq_4Byw94-A84r6sYPUjM4q-zjHNEajxbGJC1oqbJrPcoVPDgnMfQev/s1600/DSC_0895.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Praying daily and hourly that our love in action may be a dim reflection of the love of Jesus</b></i></div>
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<i><b> and that every day Sima and Vaida feel they have worth.</b></i></div>
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Below is a quote from the Empowered to Connect site that I love--<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">If our children are to believe that Jesus is crazy in love with them, </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">then I suspect they will need to first understand </span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">that they are worth being loved like crazy. </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Yet we know that what they have experienced in life-- </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">in terms of trauma, abuse, neglect, abandonment, and relinquishment -- </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">often whispers...</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">no shouts to them a very different message. </span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">So, by God's grace we as adoptive and foster</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> parents are given</span></span></i></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> the indescribable privilege of showing our kids, </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">day-by-day and moment-by-moment, </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">that they are valuable and deserving of love. </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Not because they are worthy, </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><i>but because </i><b>they have worth</b><i>. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">As parents may our love in action be even a dim reflection of the love of Jesus</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"> and send the inescapable message to our children: </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">you are worth being loved like crazy<i>.</i></span></b></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></b></i></span>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-33224033464619988012014-08-19T03:53:00.000-07:002014-08-19T03:53:13.517-07:00Before dinner..<div style="text-align: center;">
Mixing up quiche for dinner</div>
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Raining and storming outside</div>
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Four children doing "laps" around the rooms</div>
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Laughter and noise filling the air</div>
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Faces full of smiles</div>
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Watching our 5 year old run after her older three siblings</div>
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Running</div>
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Something she couldn't do smoothly just two months ago</div>
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Siblings</div>
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Learning how to play together</div>
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Having fun playing chase</div>
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Simple things that bring joy</div>
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A house that is not spotless</div>
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Window panes full of fingerprints</div>
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Sand all over the deck</div>
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Simple meals on paper plates</div>
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Crushed laundry and digging through baskets</div>
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Piles of schoolwork to plan on my desk</div>
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Seeing the smiles of our youngest two as they run</div>
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All worth it</div>
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Realizing once again what is important--</div>
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People</div>
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Not things<br />
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Praying that God will help many to feel His heart for the fatherless<br />
the preciousness of each child<br />
<i>"A Father to the fatherless, </i><br />
<i>a defender of widows, </i><br />
<i>is God in his holy dwelling.</i><br />
<i>God sets the lonely in families...."</i><br />
<i>Psalm 68:5-6</i><br />
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Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-46084858254226719392014-08-13T21:54:00.001-07:002014-08-13T21:54:58.238-07:00One month....So yesterday it was a year since we saw the girls and today we celebrate a month being home!<br />
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The month has flown! Each day is so full--- lots of learning, lots of food being made, lots of trips outside, lots of time spent "talking", and lots of coffee and chocolate:)<br />
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Some of the things we have done lately--<br />
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<i>nature walks and collages (Sima loves to pick flowers)~~</i></div>
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<i>love how much they are enjoying the beauty of creation</i></div>
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<i>lots of rides in the van around the "neighborhood"-- they LOVE going for rides!</i></div>
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<i>(some of the cows we see numerous times a week:)</i></div>
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<i>playing with dolls (loved finding this--Sima made sure to have the monitor on)--</i></div>
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<i>trying to help get a baby bird back into the nest</i></div>
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<i>watching a caterpillar make a chrysalis and become a butterfly</i></div>
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<i>playing in the rain (Sima and Vaida were thrilled!)</i></div>
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<i>coloring, cutting, pasting, playing....</i></div>
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<i>petting our cat Fluffy </i></div>
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<i>(this is huge for Sima as she was terrified of cats when she came home)--</i></div>
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<i>we are SO proud of her!</i></div>
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We are cocooning but one thing we can do is go for car or stroller rides so our outings are around our "neighborhood (farm fields)" or a run to the local library (tiny--I run in to pick up holds while one of the older kids wait with the girls). <br />
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Vaida had on a pair of flip-flops the other day and was so proud of herself! So wonderful to see her walking around in them. She has also mastered climbing up and down the stairs to our upstairs--and had to show everyone. Both girls are growing and changing before our eyes! <br />
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Sima is a big helper in the kitchen. She loves to set the table (she must think it is crazy that Americans use plates made out of paper--being real here--we have done a lot of paper this last month!) and also loves to help bake. <br />
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We've had one month home of our "cocooning" time. And I've learned about why some things are recommended (keeping the child within three feet of you is recommended--I thought mostly for attachment reasons but now feel it is also to keep them out of trouble!). Love the <u>Gotcha!</u> book and so thankful we read it and saw Dr. Purvis before we started on this adventure. <br />
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What have we seen with the cocooning---<br />
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For the two days after I hurt my knee that we had people come help, we saw one of the girls behaving extremely well when people were here. We have seen other kinds of behavior when it is "just" our family---all behavior we know they are "letting their hair down" and feeling comfortable. And a lot of behavior that they picked up from time in an orphanage, much which we have been able to redirect and correct through all we learned with Dr. Purvis. <br />
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We have heard "sorry" being said for hurts--Dr. Purvis states that a family should have "no hurts"---physical or with words. And it has been great to hear apologies for hurts. I was thrilled to hear "my turn" this week instead of seeing physical action to keep a turn. So many things that our children have learned through living in a family are things our new girls are learning. <br />
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Vaida continues to LOVE to cuddle at night and naptime--such an amazing blessing from God. She will grab her binky and get as close to me as possible, always liking one arm around her and the other stroking her hair. Sima loves to sit on our laps and does not like it when I am gone (it is very upsetting for her). Although at times it is hard to be home all the time (other than our daily car rides), we can see the fruit of what we are doing. We see the girls beginning to see what a mother and father are and do, as well as see how a family works. It is very interesting to watch them study the interactions in daily family life.<br />
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I know it would be SO much easier to be out and about, keeping them busy with activities out of the home and trying new experiences, but I also know, from all we have read and what we are now seeing with the girls, that they need, truly need, time to connect with us, to get out of fight/flight/freeze, and to begin to process so many things that have occurred in their short lives. I often think about my three months of bedrest with Joe and how I had to do that for the pregnancy---the girls NEED this time at home for their attachment. We really miss having seeing our family and friends and would <b>love</b> to have everyone meet the girls but also understand more and more that they need to have time without others here so that they can truly attach.<br />
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In the <u>Gotcha!</u> book, the author discusses how regardless of the age of the child you bring home, you need to consider they are at about a 2 year old level emotionally and behaviorally. We have definitely seen that---hard at times to realize that when their bodies are much older (and they can "act" older). <br />
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So thankful for the month we have had at home and the amazing changes we have already seen in our precious girls! So thankful for the prayers of many and the beauty of a family---seeing how each one of our children have attached to their new sisters and seeing how God has done things in each of their hearts to help out and to love on the girls. <br />
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A friend asked if the last month has been anything like we expected. Bill and I tried to keep very open expectations of what things would be like. I have read many blogs in the past about adoption and talked to others about how adoption is presented---some people feeling that adoptive parents "sugar coat" things and aren't realistic in their posts. I want to share the joys we are experiencing but also say that some days it has been much harder than we thought it would be--some of that coming from adding two people to our home (just as having long term guests changes the "flow" in a house, we have had to learn how the girls do things and they have had to learn SO many new things--some things which they don't really think are needed or don't like) , two people who haven't had the opportunity to make choices and understand consequences, two that speak a totally different language and have some behaviors that come from years of never having a permanent person in their life--someone they can trust to be there every day and night. We have all been stretched at times but we know that anything worthwhile requires some work and stretching of us! And we have seen God's faithfulness and provision every step of the way. As always, He has given us all we need, sometimes just when we need it. He has stripped us of some of the things we felt we "need" and helped us to see the things that are important--and right now in our home, it is so important to help our sweet girls come to understand what a family is---how to trust, how to love, how to understand their preciousness and their worth, and what forever means. And it truly is rewarding to see the excitement, joy, and pride in learning new things....so many things that are simple in many ways but huge for our girls.<br />
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<i> Swimming--so proud of both girls--both decided to try out the pool and had such fun!</i></div>
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<i>lots of playing in water--</i></div>
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<i>so thankful it is summer</i></div>
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<i>Ellie made Vaida into "Thing 1"</i></div>
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<i>eating lots of ice cream and spending time together</i></div>
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Hard to believe a month ago we were driving home from the airport after missing our third flight (by 10 minutes--yikes!). It has been such an amazing journey---God has opened our eyes to the need for orphans to have families in a whole new way, intimately showing us what living in an orphanage is like and how it can cause a child to not understand trust, love and their worth. He has also shown us such amazing pieces of our girls' personalities already---bits and pieces of how He fearfully and wonderfully created them--and we are excited to see more and more.Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-50195860788728600632014-08-12T19:24:00.000-07:002014-08-12T19:24:33.605-07:00A year ago today.......we first saw our girls' pictures. Hard to believe what can happen in a year. <br />
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Now we are blessed to have them a part of this big crazy family---a word they are beginning to understand more and more every day.<br />
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So grateful to have our sweeties home and so grateful we saw their picture and God opened our hearts to them.<br />
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We truly are blessed...<br />
<br />Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-28585398272332682252014-07-28T14:22:00.002-07:002014-07-28T14:22:48.414-07:00Worth it.....<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1741357099188662217" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1741357099188662217" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>These two beautiful girls are...<br />
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Worth ---<br />
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<i>Every prayer said</i><br />
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<i>Every piece of paperwork that passed through our hands</i><br />
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<i>Every check written</i><br />
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<i>Every day of waiting</i><br />
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Thanking Him for putting us on this journey and bringing precious Sima and Vaida into our lives and our hearts. Such a blessing to finally have them home.<br />
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Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-84696527701068458852014-07-24T17:40:00.000-07:002014-07-24T17:40:34.003-07:00Firsts.....So many firsts for our girls---<br />
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from chocolate chip cookies...both didn't want to try and once they did, we had to put them away<br />
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to getting to know their siblings--<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYALC_TwDl631qQ8UwMSNCD6hCvE1LqAUluCPsxL8n2zOXtSeqOy8-Lhyphenhyphen0dxcL25YRMDA1fexBzRTE-PWfogcbhK1QyF9iIlW32S_rIfabC-dMt3tlsk3vGdvLUmU15_tBXcIlotonx6X/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYALC_TwDl631qQ8UwMSNCD6hCvE1LqAUluCPsxL8n2zOXtSeqOy8-Lhyphenhyphen0dxcL25YRMDA1fexBzRTE-PWfogcbhK1QyF9iIlW32S_rIfabC-dMt3tlsk3vGdvLUmU15_tBXcIlotonx6X/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>This was our first morning home (up at 2:30 after arriving home at 10:30 pm)---</i></div>
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<i>Vaida was combing Nate's hair:)</i></div>
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<i>Check out Vaida eyeing up Jack's soda---she knew it was good and she wanted it...</i></div>
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<i>and she is trying to get it!</i></div>
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to barefeet<br />
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to playing in water for hours<br />
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to biking and playing with dolls---</div>
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<i>Vaida tried to run down the driveway twice. </i></div>
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<i>Bill found some snow fence in the barn for a </i></div>
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<i>temporary fix---we've got a gated home now:) </i></div>
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<i>He picked up some nicer fencing at the store.</i></div>
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<i> Too hard for a mom with a bum knee to chase kids </i></div>
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<i>running for the road!</i></div>
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to learning to jump on the trampoline--<br />
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Two precious girls, forever loved, learning what a family is....learning through play and laughter what it means to be loved. A family learning how to help two gifts from God release some of their fears, fears that come from years of "being alone" and fending for themselves. Helping a six year old learn that she can be a little girl and play with dolls, not having to always worry and care for her younger sister. Helping two treasures learn how to appropriately give and receive love, handle frustration, limits, sharing.....</div>
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Blessed to wake up every morning to a six year old </div>
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whispering to you that she loves you in her native language.</div>
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Thank You Lord for the gift of this sweet one!</div>
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Falling asleep cuddling with a five year old who spent many nights alone but who wants to cuddle---who will place your hand on her head for you to rub her hair and will place your arm around her. Thank You God for opening her heart to receive the love and affection she has missed for so long! Having her wake me up overnight to cuddle---such a blessing!</div>
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<i><b>Welcome Home Girls---</b></i></div>
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<i><b>Home....</b></i></div>
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<i><b>Where you will always be loved and treasured ..... </b></i></div>
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<i><b>loved for how He fearfully and wonderfully made you. </b></i></div>
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<i>Thanking Him for showing us so many bits and pieces of who the girls are the last couple of weeks. And grateful for His wisdom, strength, and love </i></div>
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<i>flowing through us as we work through the</i></div>
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<i> many changes our sweet girls are going through. </i></div>
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<i>He is faithful! </i></div>
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<b>Every good and precious gift is from above..... </b> <i>James 1:17</i></div>
Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-79980296444008636622014-07-18T11:49:00.002-07:002014-07-18T11:49:32.062-07:00Freedom!We will never again celebrate the 4th of July the same way in our house. On July 4th, we officially became Mom and Dad to our newest daughters....... our country's day to celebrate independence was our daughters' day of freedom from a life in an orphanage.......<br />
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Introducing--<br />
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Thanking God for all He has done to bless us with our two precious girls! What a journey our trip was---so many things to share! Just not enough time!<br />
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We arrived home on Sunday night and Monday I pulled a ligament in my knee so am on crutches---thankfully we have had great help here and the weather has been fantastic to sit outside.<br />
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The girls have had some great new experiences--<br />
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Being barefoot---<br />
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Playing in water--<br />
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Getting to know their siblings--<br />
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It is wonderful to see more and more of their personalities! We love the bond they have and love to see them starting to experience so many new things. <br />
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Have learned so much about His love for us and His love for the orphan---and that no child should have to live out life without a family---more thoughts on that later.<br />
<br />Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-87969545689626153152014-06-21T16:35:00.001-07:002014-06-21T17:53:51.835-07:00Ponderings of a soon-to-be mom again.......I've been thinking a lot lately of the time when my due date approached with our biological children and all the different thoughts that would swirl around my head.<br />
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And I find myself thinking similar things now about S and V. Instead of when will I go into labor and how will the labor be, I am now thinking about how the trip over and to their city will be. What will it be like walking up the steps to their orphanage---what thoughts will be running through our heads at that moment? What will the girls be thinking? <br />
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Instead of thinking about seeing our child for the first time, I think about how the moment we meet S and V will be---we know what they look like and their faces are etched into our memories from many, many times staring at their pictures. How will they respond to us? Will I be able to not cry:)? I know it will be an emotional time for me and Bill and Joe too. <br />
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The thrill of meeting our children is starting to fill us--just as with our biological children, as their time to join our family got closer, we would find ourselves daydreaming about life with them. We do the same now---thinking about the time we will share with S and V at their orphanage, their home for now. What will it be like to hug them the first time, to feel their hair and face next to ours, to hold their sweet hands? What joy it will be to laugh and play together after waiting for almost ten months! To sit and drink in the uniqueness of each of them and the special way He created them. Thinking about what we will learn about them from their caregivers. Thinking about the time when they will be able to leave the orphanage and join our family forever---starting a whole new chapter in their lives. Thinking and praying for them as they leave the only home they've known for years.<br />
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Thinking about that first day and night together in their country. The first morning they wake up with us. And the trip home and the moment they meet all of their siblings who have prayed and waited so long to have them join the family. <br />
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So incredibly thankful to be so close to being a mom again.....<br />
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Look at all our butterflies--soon, girls, soon!!<br />
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<br />Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-44345386785809069612014-06-04T04:18:00.000-07:002014-06-04T04:18:21.436-07:00Great is Thy Faithfulness......<br />
Bill and I were talking over coffee the other morning about how many ways we have seen God provide. Last weekend we sang one of my favorite hymns at church---Great is Thy Faithfulness. How faithful He has been, often through the hands of so many others. Thank you to so many who have blessed our family and S and V.<br />
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<i>Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;</i><br />
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Preparations coming together---<br />
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Here are the girls' "coming home" outfits. For every baby we've had, we've picked out a special outfit to bring them home from the hospital in. We want S and V to have something to put in their memory boxes to remember the day they joined our family.<br />
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<i>There is no shadow of turning with Thee,</i><br />
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A swingset to help "learn through play"----thank you Uncle Jim for <b>all</b> your help and wisdom! Ellie and Nate thank you for finishing the tire swing before you left:)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBQw5-S0KtctO1yS8CKimkWaOdEiA-CZPfg-JtVRtkoTUiiZKP3-Qmjp5J5SRkNKP27azdbDbpz5o7IHeXbaDt-O1sEK0hpuoksGZwcdcSSnBnhaOW4jIZLzCTJ63zU-Xsze-yLk0OIkL/s1600/DSC_0918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBQw5-S0KtctO1yS8CKimkWaOdEiA-CZPfg-JtVRtkoTUiiZKP3-Qmjp5J5SRkNKP27azdbDbpz5o7IHeXbaDt-O1sEK0hpuoksGZwcdcSSnBnhaOW4jIZLzCTJ63zU-Xsze-yLk0OIkL/s1600/DSC_0918.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i>Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,</i><br />
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Thanking Him for opening our eyes to the changes we need to make in our schedules and calendars the next couple of months.<br />
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<i>As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.</i><br />
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Thanking Him that through this crazy process of the last nine months, He is never changing. So many things haven't worked out as we planned or on our "timeline", but we see more and more, His clock does keep perfect time. Thanking Him that He is the same today, tomorrow and yesterday.<br />
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<i>Great is Thy faithfulness!</i><br />
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Trusting in Him as the Father to the fatherless to care for our girls until we can get to them<i>.</i><br />
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<i>Great is Thy faithfulness!</i><br />
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Thanking Him for His provision through so many---people finding us items, donating things we need....<br />
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<i>Morning by morning new mercies I see</i><br />
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Praising Him for His mercies and grace and that special time with Him in the morning, now hearing the orchestra of birds singing.<br />
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<i>All I have needed Thy hand hath provided</i><br />
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Thanking Him that every need we have, He can meet in His own miraculous way.<br />
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Pellets and frozen food donated by a neighbor who was moving--thank You God!<br />
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Play tunnels and dolls donated by a homeschooling mom--thank you!<br />
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A refrigerator donated---lots of mouths to feed so much needed!<br />
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<i>Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!</i><br />
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Praising Him for a home filled with joy and laughter and anticipation---<br />
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<i>Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,</i><br />
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Knowing we will enjoy the beauty and freedom of summer with S and V, spending the majority of our time getting to know each other in the beauty of creation.<br />
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<i>Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above;</i><br />
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Thanking Him for a pillow to place our heads after long days;)<br />
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<i>Join with all nature in manifold witness,</i><br />
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So grateful to have space to roam and play outside, as well as many ways to use our bodies to grow and learn.<br />
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<i>To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.</i><br />
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Thrilled to have the opportunity to reach out to V and S through e-mails and pictures while we wait---sharing our love for them and our family through the wonder of pictures and words written.<br />
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<i>Great is Thy faithfulness!</i><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Praising Him for a great case worker and a wonderful facilitator and attorney in country. Knowing that He has placed everyone where they need to be to help our girls and trusting them to guide us to get them home.</span></i><br />
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<i>Great is Thy faithfulness!</i><br />
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Friends who have loaned items, bought t-shirts, donated money, prayed and prayed and prayed for paperwork, dates and especially our girls, celebrated with us, understood why we are doing this, cleaned out donated refrigerators, and have offered to help while we are gone and once we get back. Thank you very much!</div>
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<i>Morning by morning new mercies I see</i><br />
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The time Bill and I spend together in the early morning talking things over and praying together. Thanking Him for a wonderful husband!<br />
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<i>All I have needed Thy hand hath provided</i><br />
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Anonymous donors (thank you so very much) and amazing grant from JSC Foundation----<br />
God is faithful!</div>
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<i>Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!</i><br />
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Love this book and so thankful He found us the girls.....<br />
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....and that I can be their forever mama!</div>
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<i>Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,</i><br />
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Thanking Him that as we fail, He forgives. As we let frustration, discouragement, fear, and lack of patience take over, He graciously fills us again and again with His peace.</div>
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<i>Thine own great presence to cheer and to guide;</i><br />
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A wonderful church body and great adoption ministry and support group......<br />
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<i>Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow</i><br />
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So many wonderful people who have offered to help with things at home while we are gone---helping with our kids at home, meals, helping us prep to get ready, care packages, etc. Thank you!! You give us strength to continue to walk this journey!<br />
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Thank you for all the many prayers said for our sweet S and V.</div>
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<i>Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.</i><br />
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Praising Him for our newest daughters, S and V--<br />
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Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17</i></b><br />
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Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness, Your love for S and V, and the hope, strength, and peace You give us daily.</div>
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Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-8922279768910495872014-05-26T08:13:00.000-07:002014-05-26T08:13:20.314-07:00When the butterflies all fly, we are on our way.....We've been very blessed to be able to send S and V e-mails and pictures. We are trying to share with them pictures of our home, yard and us to help them become "familiar" with where and how they will be living in a short time. It has been such a treat to send them notes, telling them how we love them and how precious they are to us and explaining some things we will do together when they are home.<br />
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We came up with the idea of a way to count the days until we see them. Ellie, Nate and I made butterflies out of coffee filters and will hang one on the ceiling every day. Once they are all in flight, we will fly to see the girls. We want to take a picture of the butterflies, both those waiting to fly and those "flying" for the girls and include with each new note we send so they can tell how long it will be.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fly, butterflies, fly!</span></b></div>
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<br />Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-34261241839011885932014-05-18T19:10:00.000-07:002014-05-18T19:10:23.716-07:00We're coming girls!Thanking God for a court date and flights booked! The wait to see our sweet girls is almost over!<br />
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We are beyond thrilled and have many lists to prepare for our journey. Praying that the time will go quickly and that God is preparing us and S and V for the changes in their lives. Praising Him that we know when we will meet them and for good flights and accommodations during a busy time to travel.<br />
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The countdown has begun............Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-24914637932722329232014-05-11T19:21:00.001-07:002014-05-11T19:21:24.272-07:00MotherSuch a special word to me in so many ways.<br />
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I'm blessed by the best mother any one could ever ask for---truly blessed! Mom is such an amazing woman---a woman whose faith is as strong as she is, who lives out a life of giving to others, who is the most supportive person I know, and who has taught me more about love than anyone. God gave me a wonderful mentor in Mom--a woman who has "showed" me how to live out all the fruit of the spirit---love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control. As we've read about parenting an adopted child, we have seen the importance of thinking through your past and dealing with things you need to heal. I was so blessed to have been brought up in a home in which I was truly loved for who God made me to be (even in the early years when I cried a lot to get attention and in my teen years). I thank God for parents who built a home that we always felt loved, safe, taken care of, and treasured. I thank Him for the many sacrifices Mom and Dad made for us, most of them which were unnoticed and unappreciated. I thank Him for an amazing friend in Mom---a true gem and gift from above.<br />
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And a fun Grandma--playing baseball with the kids up north. I couldn't find the one of Mom playing football with Jack and Joe (at night in November under the yard light).</div>
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So many, many wonderful memories--</div>
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Ellie's first birthday (she was a little under the weather)--</div>
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A trip to Old World--Nate didn't think it was too much fun!</div>
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A birthday card that was really funny!</div>
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Fun at the firepit--notice Jack had a plan for the smoke that came his way.</div>
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I thank Him for the gift of motherhood---for the precious children He has blessed us with, for the years of joy that I have had seeing our children grow and mature, for the many answered prayers, and for the gift of the two newest children I have, sweet S and precious V. I thank Him for the model I had in Mom---being raised in a home where children were more important than any item or activity. I thank Him that we will be able to meet our newest daughters soon---and thank Him for teaching me so much through the wait even though my heart so longs to look in S and V's eyes and hug each of them and not let go. I thank Him for a husband who shares a love of children and a big family and finds so much joy in the little things ---and puts up with lots of noise, messes and craziness. I thank Him for helping me to realize that the time we have with our kids in our home is short and helping us keep the right perspective about things.<br />
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My days are full and my heart is too. Thankful today for the gift of Jenny, Jack, Joe, Nate, Ellie, S and V---<br />
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<i>Children are a gift from the Lord. <b>Psalm 127:3 </b></i><br />
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A great day today enjoying the weather together---<br />
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Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-12185366909355331362014-05-04T20:11:00.000-07:002014-05-04T20:11:06.124-07:00Preparing--We are getting closer to the end of this process, hoping to get a court date assigned in the next week or two! We are so grateful to be at this point and have our trip to get the girls becoming more of a reality.<br />
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So as we get closer, we begin to prepare---<br />
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A friend hosted a garage sale for us which was a great success! Thanks so much Laurie! <br />
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Ellie and Isabella sold out of their baked goods before the day was over on Friday and sold many Rainbow Loom bracelets. Thank you girls for all your hard work! And thanks Hazel for donating the Rainbow Loom gymnasts---they were all sold by Saturday noon. And a final thank you to the many people who donated items to sell and to Tammy for letting us take over her garage.<br />
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Bill and his brother started to put together a swingset---what fun all the kids will have on this!<br />
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Many hands make light work. This is a "puzzle project"---a custom made swingset with no directions and only two pictures to work off of. Thanks Jim for your help in figuring it out!!<br />
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And we've had some fun finally being outside---what a long winter! <br />
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And made lots of art items--<br />
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<br />Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-89744142061723537202014-04-28T05:09:00.000-07:002014-04-28T05:09:13.482-07:00It takes a village...One thing we have realized on the journey to bring S and V home is that you cannot do this on your own. We have blessed by so many in so many ways!!<br />
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Thank you for your many prayers---prayers for the girls, prayers for paperwork to be completed, prayers for provision, prayers for our family.<br />
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Thank you for your listening ears---for hearing our concerns, struggles and sharing in our joys! <br />
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Thank you for helping us with our other kids---dropping off meals, taking them places, making things special for them.<br />
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Thank you for helping us with paperwork---reading things over, delivering items for our dossier, and the many prayers for paperwork to be completed.<br />
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Thank you for rejoicing with us as we go through the next step along the path to expanding our family.<br />
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Thank you for understanding why we are doing this even though it might not make full sense to you.<br />
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Thank you for items you have given us for sweet S and V.<br />
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Thank you for helping us with our fundraising projects---t-shirts, benefit concert, bracelets, Ginger on a Mission, and garage sale.<br />
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Thank you for continuing to pray as we prepare for our trip to bring the girls home---we are so blessed to have so many who believe in the power of prayer and are faithfully lifting us before our Source of everything. Thank you for believing in His faithfulness and praying in that way.Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-15672692658754148332014-04-20T20:37:00.000-07:002014-04-20T20:37:50.052-07:00He is Risen!Happy Easter!<br />
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We sang one of my favorite songs this morning--In Christ Alone. Our pastor talked about how we can live out our resurrection life by serving and loving others. We have all we need in Jesus---once we have Him, we don't need status, success, things, security....He is all we need, and we are free to love and serve others. Thanking God today for His Son and the meaning of Jesus' resurrection---in Him alone.<br />
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<i><u>In Christ Alone</u></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">In Christ alone my hope is found,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">He is my light, my strength, my song;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">firm through the fiercest drought and storm.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">What heights of love, what depths of peace,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">My Comforter, my All in All,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">here in the love of Christ I stand.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">In Christ alone! who took on flesh</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">Fulness of God in helpless babe!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">This gift of love and righteousness</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">Scorned by the ones he came to save:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">Till on that cross as Jesus died,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">The wrath of God was satisfied -</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">For every sin on Him was laid;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">Here in the death of Christ I live.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">There in the ground His body lay</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">Light of the world by darkness slain:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">Then bursting forth in glorious Day</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">Up from the grave he rose again!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">And as He stands in victory</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">For I am His and He is mine -</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">Bought with the precious blood of Christ.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">No guilt in life, no fear in death,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">This is the power of Christ in me;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">From life's first cry to final breath.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">Jesus commands my destiny.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">No power of hell, no scheme of man,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">Can ever pluck me from His hand;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">Till He returns or calls me home,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;">Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.</span></i></span>Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-63301369226239092552014-04-13T11:58:00.001-07:002014-04-13T11:58:56.151-07:00Looking to freshen your spring wardrobe??We've got a <b>great</b> shirt to liven things up!!<br />
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We are hoping to sell our remaining t-shirts to help fund our travel costs to bring S and V home. And we have lots left! Help!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgir2ja7xNp7mA1BxoZq1LVOQcypYlP2QMMSwBdMjwPwkuly5GqLDDFhfpQL_GkPbIRqqbE60Noi7GHV44cLp70DrpI0mvhrsu6jZZL8gZeq6GsPwrGpqV6EdrK_-9kXGby4rE6Un2tlhIg/s1600/shirtthang%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgir2ja7xNp7mA1BxoZq1LVOQcypYlP2QMMSwBdMjwPwkuly5GqLDDFhfpQL_GkPbIRqqbE60Noi7GHV44cLp70DrpI0mvhrsu6jZZL8gZeq6GsPwrGpqV6EdrK_-9kXGby4rE6Un2tlhIg/s1600/shirtthang%5D.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPGJKDm-8VdewrtH4Zd6gUSWxsMbCLDDKwALx0EVbon93_VYkEyv6-zX1cLQpL6QC1BIWPvVjThdL69agf-R2tfblLgpbqvahRvPYFlzOq_2mLkIk5bg59JcB-ezos1fIz-JUl0snIuGe/s1600/twoshirt2%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPGJKDm-8VdewrtH4Zd6gUSWxsMbCLDDKwALx0EVbon93_VYkEyv6-zX1cLQpL6QC1BIWPvVjThdL69agf-R2tfblLgpbqvahRvPYFlzOq_2mLkIk5bg59JcB-ezos1fIz-JUl0snIuGe/s1600/twoshirt2%5D.jpg" height="202" width="320" /></a></div>
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We would be so grateful if you would share this post with any one you know who might be interested in a very great adoption t-shirt. On the front the shirt says "Adopting a child won't change the world, but for that child, the world will change" and on the back "We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19". The t-shirts are $15 each and are available in adult sizes small to XXL.<br />
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And we have some beautiful bracelets for $8 to go along with your t-shirt! Mother's Day is around the corner:) If you buy a bracelet, half of the money goes to our adoption and the other half to help Haitian parents provide for their families!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjIm9dC-g_9BBZ228SaWW2MrS5W5OjYIgaGsfwUpNaEkmQ6GiIVfuzd80269UHzDDaDe_N2bVBnx7zleTUusNBXbmBQJb2q99pVVzPbRZOGF94pWOVN4Jk9WjwHxAAYJeWmUuwoYzEhfP/s1600/DSC_0225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjIm9dC-g_9BBZ228SaWW2MrS5W5OjYIgaGsfwUpNaEkmQ6GiIVfuzd80269UHzDDaDe_N2bVBnx7zleTUusNBXbmBQJb2q99pVVzPbRZOGF94pWOVN4Jk9WjwHxAAYJeWmUuwoYzEhfP/s1600/DSC_0225.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Speaking of Mother's Day, how about a new purse? Or something to hold all the pesty cards you have? A group on Etsy called Ginger on a Mission approached us and will donate half of the amount sold toward our adoption. They have some great items---click on their logo on the sidebar to see their stock and prices on Etsy. If you do purchase from them, mention this blog or Diana and Anne (the pseudonames for the girls).<br />
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We would appreciate it if you would pass this link on to those who you think might like any of the items we are selling. We would love to try and make as much as we could to cover airfare, hotel and travel costs in country, especially as we will be traveling in the more expensive travel months.Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-59504979502132407992014-04-08T14:55:00.003-07:002014-04-08T14:55:36.125-07:00Empowered...I love that word! Bill and I recently went to an Empowered to Connect conference for foster and adoptive parents. It was an amazing couple of days! Our foster care/adoption ministry has all of Dr. Karyn Purvis' DVDs so we are very familiar with her and love what we have read and seen already.<br />
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The conference was so much more! We both walked away truly feeling empowered to help S and V. One quote that Michael and Amy Monroe had that hit home in many ways was "there is no adoption without loss". We will know of some of the losses our girls have experienced but many of the other losses only God will know---and we want to help them walk through the healing.<br />
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I will share some of the great quotes from the weekend and hope to add more about what we learned later. Three things that Dr. Purvis' ideas focus on are empowering, connecting and correcting---working on body, spirit and soul. For our childrens' bodies, we need to make sure they are fed every two hours, are fully hydrated (HUGE!), get lots of healthy touch, and have sensory activities every two hours. Sleep is also very important for our kids. Connecting is being "fully present" and spending lots of time with them, looking at the belief behind the behavior, lots of eye contact, warmth of voice, playful engagement, and nurturing play. Correcting---Dr. Purvis describes this parenting as "investment parenting" addressing the mind, will and emotions. Everything you do should build trust, preciousness, allow child to use voice, and help child self-regulate. Correcting needs to be immediate, direct, efficient, action-based, and leveled at the behavior, not the child. Great stuff!<br />
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If you are interested, the Empowered to Connect website has tons of free info on it---many short clips with Dr. Purvis and the Monroes. I can't say enough about the conferences--if you get a chance, please try to attend! You will leave with a much better understanding of who you are and what you need to do for your children. <br />
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So here are some great quotes--<br />
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"There are answers for everything our children need, but we have to understand the issues in order to find the answers." -- Dr. Karyn Purvis</div>
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"To correct a behavior, I'm first going to have to address the belief that drives that behavior." -- Dr. Karyn Purvis</div>
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"I can't think of a better reason to change the way you parent than to more faithfully meet the needs of your child." -- Michael Monroe</div>
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"We as parents must learn to recognize the difference between a brain problem and a behavior problem." -- Deb Jones</div>
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"We can take away violence by giving a child a voice."<br />-- Dr. Karyn Purvis</div>
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"Healing is about meeting a child right where he is and loving him there." -- Dan Coley</div>
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"As a parent, it is better to err and repair than to never err at all." -- Dr. Karyn Purvis</div>
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"We have to realize that children who are adopted are constantly seeing and being seen through the lens of adoption." -- Terri Coley</div>
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"God has designed us for relationship. This is why the most powerful tool for changing the human brain is...another human brain." -- Michael Monroe</div>
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"You cannot lead a child to a place of healing if you do not know the way yourself." -- Dr. Karyn Purvis</div>
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"We all get stuck sometimes, but kids from hard places get stuck more easily, more frequently, and stay stuck longer." -- Amy Monroe</div>
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"If we give them a chance, our kids want to be connected to us even more than we want to be connected to them." -- Dr. Karyn Purvis</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">If there's not a connection, your child cannot feel safe. If you're not connected, you can anticipate behavioral issues.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">I have to demonstrate love day in and day out to change what my children believe about love, about themselves, & about big people.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #292f33; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
</span>Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741357099188662217.post-11168560968684406032014-03-27T07:13:00.001-07:002014-03-28T05:50:40.294-07:00Got me thinking.....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><i>If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Frank A. Clark</span>Ruthieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664883500287284970noreply@blogger.com0