While We Wait....Our Adoption Journey

Our Theme..

2012-01-22T09:02:00.000-08:00

I think it is fair to say that we are all at some point waiting for something. Waiting for an important piece of mail to come, waiting to hear from a particular someone. Waiting to hear if we got the job, Waiting for the birth of a child, Waiting for a life situation to change. Waiting to hear if an offer we put on a house has been accepted, waiting to hear if the bank approved our loan. Waiting....

Currently we are praying for a new job for Denny and for our adoption process to be over but there are stations of waiting along the way for both situations... many of them.

Waiting has been our theme song for quite some time now. There are some stations of waiting that are harder than others. Right now Denny is waiting on responses from Resumes he sent out for work, or phone calls to be returned, or waiting for Monday to come so he can make more contacts...waiting will then be for the interview date, then the results of the interview and if there will be another interview and the results of that interview and if there will be a job offer. It's a lot of waiting!

Then there is the waiting to hear that our kids dossier has gone for legalization and at the same time waiting for some of our documents in the states to be returned to us from being legalized by the Haitian Consulate in Chicago. It seemed like one of those "easy" waits, however, it has turned into an all consuming wait as I was told the documents were sent back to us. We have not received them back yet. This is one of the small, but some how big wait in the big picture of Adoption.

I know from prior experience of waits like this that my anxiety of a situation was short lived. We got what we needed and moved on to the next station of waiting but, when I am IN IT, it's all I can think about. I have to constantly remind myself that this too shall pass and that we will move on. It's hard, I won't lie. Because of the numerous ups and downs of our "wait" I have to really monitor my thoughts and know that I am acting appropriately. What I mean is I have to ask myself "is this something you have ANY control over at all? If so, what is the appropriate thing to do? If I don't have ANY control, I HAVE to let go and let God take it and deal with it. In any case I have to participate in the process and still remember that ultimately, He is still the one in control.

God is teaching me so much about myself through this "Waiting" mostly my attitude is 90% of the journey. How I walk through it is huge. God has used this to break my need to be in control. Its been a slow process but, I can honestly look back and see how I have changed. I'm not there yet, believe me, but I'm different than 3 years ago. I have peace (most of the time) God has shown me that if I rely on Him and don't go off the deep end and come unglued in my emotions, that IN HIM I have a voice. What I mean is when I take my concerns to him and seek His will He gives me wisdom and peace on how to move forward in ways that I never could have imagined, it can be powerful.
God has increased my faith in HIS ability to take care of the smallest detail, tremendously. My relationship with Jesus is so much deeper I depend on Him ALOT. I know that even though I have moment of "oh my gosh, our whole adoption is going to fall apart now!!" that even if our documents got lost and we have to start the process of 4 pieces of paper over? That it will be ok - the world will not end and our adoption will still move forward. There is a reason for everything! Of THAT I am convinced. God IS. And that has come to be enough for me to know while we wait...

Getting Ready

2012-01-07T07:18:00.000-08:00

This might sound odd.... but, it FEELS like God is getting us ready for the kids homecoming... I don't know how to explain it other than its a feeling inside of preparation and it is in both Denny and myself. We are on the same page thought wise and with out even talking about things. We are in the mind-set that this is it! This is the year our kids come home. We don't know the date, but we know they are coming.

We need to restructure living conditions, even talked about selling our house and finding something a little bigger for less, nowadays, that IS possible...or, adding a room to the downstairs... We have started looking at trading in my car for a van, to me this just says "Big Family" and I love it!! I can't wait. Who knows maybe God is going to add to our family down the road.

Possible life changes on the horizon that can change everything is feeling pretty evident. Just don't know when God is going to bring all of this together.

I remember getting close to my labor date with Talon a million years ago. You know it's getting to be time and you need to have all of your plans in place as best you can. You can never fully prepare because, especially if it's your first child, you don't know what to expect REALLY. We can only prepare so much and then we will have to learn while doing. This could make for some good blogging stories I'm pretty sure! haha...and I can't wait for that either. The trials and errors, the wonderful mishaps and love that will start to fill our lives with these two amazing, amazing little people. Just thinking about this I get emotional, seriously, I'm tearing right now! Wow.

Each day is another day closer to having them home, and then once they are home each day will be another day getting to KNOW them. I Can not Wait!

Update!

2012-01-03T19:04:00.000-08:00

ok..so, Heather Elyse from Giving Hope Child Rescue, in Haiti has taken on our case. She has been to the orphanage to see our kids, took lots of love, gifts, pictures and a video on Christmas Eve!! What a beautiful gift that was!! They also put the kids father on a food program! We were so taken back by this as he is such a sweet, sweet soul and very special to us. She has met with him and has been working on the kids dossier. She believes we will be in the IBESR in about 2 weeks. This is so exciting for us. Finally!! We should have been there....well, I'm not going to go there. God knew and God knows. We know that God is Sovereign and we know that all of this has happened for a reason. Meeting Heather and Michelle has added a whole new dynamic to our journey that honestly, I'm so very grateful for. Meeting someone like Heather has been a very personal thing for me that I don't know that I can explain. One of those things from God that spoke to my heart as only God can do. We have peace that we have not had in years, this is a gift in itself.

We have met some amazing families that are on the same journey with us. Some just starting and some that are just getting their kids home and starting a whole new journey that we all can benefit from being a part of as well. This also has been a huge blessing. To be a part of this community of sisters and brothers that encourage, love and share everything they know.

so, here we are. Possibly 2 weeks from IBESR and then we wait. We are good at waiting, we know how to do that :)

Comedy Night Out With Chris Danielson Benefit

2011-12-11T06:50:00.000-08:00

The Founders of Ebenezer Discipleship Training Center, an outreach to Haiti, Nate and Brenda Yonker have offered tickets to us to sell for the benefit of our adoption. This comedy show is actually to benefit their ministry in Haiti. Anything we sell over 100 tickets will benefit our adoption, giving us the opportunity to raise up to $500.00. This is a very generous offer from them as their ministry is near and dear to our hearts as well. God put us together with Nate and Brenda back in 2007 on our first trip to Haiti. They were there when we met Ruthfaelle and Mackenson and we have been blessed to watch their ministry in Haiti flourish under Gods might hand. We hope that you will come and have a great night of laughter, not only will you be blessing us, but you will be supporting these amazing people and their ministry in Haiti.

Comedy Night Out With Chris Danielson

Before Chris teamed up with wife Emilee to host The Morning Show on JQ99, Chris Danielson was a touring improv and stand up performer. On Jan. 21 he teams up with son Jake Danielson for a night of stand-up comedy, improv, and fun. Big Daddy Troy West will be hosting.In the past, Chris has shared the stage with comic greats Chonda Pierce, Brad Stine and Daren Streblow. Jacob has opened for Tim Hawkins, Jeff Allen and Michael Jr.

When: Saturday January 21st. 7p.m. show, doors open at 6p.m.
Where: Van Singel Fine Arts Center in Byron Center, 8500 Burlingame SW, Byron Center MI 49315

Tickets: $10 available by calling 616-366-5375- We will collect funds and tickets will be available at the Will Call Window for you to pick up the night of the show.

These would make GREAT stocking stuffers!!! Tickets are selling so get your today!! You will NOT want to miss this great night!!!

A New Day

2011-12-06T14:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been waiting to share this information until I had the OK from two very special women. Many people know of the difficulties we have had this past year with getting our kid's dossier completed and our file into the IBESR. It should have been there months ago. However, it is not.

Heather Elyse, who is one of the founders of and Giving Hope Rescue Mission,, happened to stop into the orphanage where our children live. Another friend, Shasta Grimes, made it a point to ask Heather to take a look at our kids paperwork while she was there as Heather runs an orphanage in Haiti that take in orphans that are available to be adopted. Heather made it clear that things were not being handled properly and has reached out to our family to help with our adoption

Heather and Michelle See, who is also founder and the other half of this amazing , spent time on the phone with Denny and I and it was like a whirlwind of information and just the pure organization and getting down to business was like nothing we have experienced in the years we have been trying to get our kids home. They had a plan to us the very next morning, that astounded us. They have included finding the father not only for what we need from him, but to get him on a food program!! This blessed us tremendously. Denny met the kids Father a couple of years ago and it was pretty emotional. We can't imagine how hard this must be for him.

We do need to raise $16,000.00 to pay in-country fees to a new attorney. Heather is doing all she can to help us reduce this cost and is not asking us for any fees to cover HER costs! This is unprecedented. She and Michelle are doing this on their own time and their own dime. I need to tell you that Heather is a single mother of 10 adopted children- yes, 10 :)The idea that she is doing this for us with no fee is very humbling.

We are doing what we can to get funds together. We thought we were at the end of the adoption fees part and have paid out close to $40,000.00 over the past 2 years about $3,000.00 of that were donations from family and friends that we could not have moved forward at times with out those donations. We have about $4,000.00 still in savings but believing that God will provide what is needed and we are so excited about what is happening.

Please pray that Heather will be able to track down the information needed to complete our kids dossier. She will be taking possession of our dossier while in Haiti the next couple of weeks.

We are putting together some fundraisers, so check out our fund raiser page and watch for more opportunities coming! You may want to keep an eye on Heather and Michelle, they are two pretty amazing women.

Advent and Adoption?

2011-12-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

This year the acknowledgment of the Advent season has really been pulling at my heart. Some people may have always celebrated the season of Advent, but growing up in a non-religious- non-Christian home I never knew about Advent. I heard the word but always associated it with the Catholic faith and so even as a Christian never really pursued understanding of what it was about. Over the years I saw calendars show up in different friends homes with chocolate behind each day they opened, that just confused me and then the Purple and pink candles were part of the church service I attended, but still as it has been introduced into my life I never really knew what it meant. For it to just randomly pop into my head to investigate recently seemed so odd but I know that it is God.

I started reading a little and discovered quite simply, that it is a season of looking forward to the birth of Christ. Well I thought I've always done that, but to be honest although I know that the reason for Christmas is Christs birth, I think I still have "SCS" Santa Clause Syndrome and still secretly think it's about the gifts under the tree...See I grew up in a home with no real mention of God or Jesus, Santa was the focus of Christmas. I think that it has stayed in my heart as a very strong belief as a kid. I don't totally discount the magic that Santa Clause brought into my life as a child, I think magical is wonderful.

When I became a believer I tried to teach my 6 year old son, Talon, that the reason for Christmas is about Jesus. I focused on Christ completely. To my dismay, when someone asked Talon when he was about 8 if he was going to see Santa, he said "My Mom hates Santa Clause" I was so embarrassed and I felt so bad! What had I done to my poor son's heart? So, my work was cut out for me to straighten out the fact that I didn't HATE Santa Clause. My son is 27 now and seems to have survived Mom's hack job on Christmas...wow...

So, now we have 2 little ones coming into our home, soon we hope. I believe that while we are waiting we should be preparing. Wow. What a thing to say. Preparing while we wait for the children that will change our lives. Sounds familiar. As my heart has been seeking to understand why God has asked me to take a look at Advent he has placed some cool things a long the way. Last night at church Advent was talked about as a season of waiting. When the word waiting was said my heart leapt, I looked at my husband like he would know what I was thinking but, well...haha It was a me and God moment. This is so important. Advent is waiting and preparing and focusing on the anticipation of what is to come. Not to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle of shopping for gifts and getting stressed out. In our adoption we wait in expectation of what is coming. Who is coming and how we can prepare for their arrival into our home and into our lives wholly. They are so far away and we read about their daily lives, we have even spent time with them, but we have not experienced the fullness of living with them. That will be so very different than what we can even imagine. I can't help think of the similarities of waiting on the birth of our Savior. People heard about the Messiah, knew of the promises of what His birth meant and I'm sure had their own expectations of what that would look like. I'm sure they weren't expecting a baby born in a stinky barn stall! We too are waiting in expectation and trusting God to bring our children home. We need to be leaning on him daily before they get here in order to be prepared for when they arrive. We need God to help us. We need to slow down and pay attention to the details of where WE are right now and were we need to be. What is God showing us to do to be ready?
Pastor Kyle talked today Advent today. The anticipation and excitement that leads to a shift in our perspective and priorities. Hope that leads to peace. He said "A change is coming and the response should be Joy" and it is! But I have to also see and ask myself if my perspective and priorities are right.

This year as I celebrate Advent in serious excitement and anticipation of remembering the birth of Christ and learning what it means to wait from HIS perspective, I am so very grateful for this adoption journey as it has and will continue to mold us into the parents we need to be for our children and servants of Jesus Christ.

I pray for you and your family that you too will, if you don't already, take a look at Advent and slow down this season in expectant wonder as to what the birth of Jesus Christ means to you, what does his birth, his LIFE mean to you?

In His Grace alone,
Kimberly

A New Day and New Hope...

2011-11-27T10:27:00.000-08:00

Strength will rise when we wait upon the Lord. It's true. When we place all of our hope in God whose strength is made perfect in our weakness we watch him move mountains. Sometimes the mountain is moved one boulder at a time. I think sometimes I expect him to just pick it up and move it all at once and not to limit our God because if that is what he chooses to do then that is what he will do. However it doesn't seem to work that way.
God has blown us away yet again by bringing help to us that we could have never orchestrated on our own, ever. He seemed to do it one moment at a time bringing us to a place were we can see HIS hand clearly touching our lives and the people around our lives as well. This whole adoption journey is not just about our family. We have met so many amazing families along the way on the same journey. We could never walk this road alone and we could never just walk by a fellow traveler and not reach out to try and help them along this very emotional, confusing, frustrating and long road. God knows that and gave us other people to come along side us. What a wonderful and beautiful gift.
We have a big decision to make Monday, well we already believe God has helped us make that decision, we just have to have the courage and faith to follow through. I can honestly say that we are excited about this and know that God has already blessed this. The fact that God has placed people all around us that are praying for us and working on our behalf is overwhelming sometimes. We feel completely immersed in the love of God by his people.
Denny said to God today "thank you for choosing us" choosing us to be the parents of these two amazing and beautiful children. For some reason that struck me this morning. I thank God often for allowing me to be Talon's mother - but I guess I never thought about being "chosen" for this role of parent, Mama, teacher, leader...these children, all of our children our God's children and that fact that he would chose us? Wow.
We look forward to tomorrow with great expectation of what God is going to do, what he has already done! God says He knows the plans he has for us :) so this is not new to him.

I pray that today you will know how valuable you are to God's story, His plan and be blessed by the notion that God is crazy about you!

While we wait...

2011-11-20T05:31:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking recently that I should change name of our blog. The picture I have of Ruthfaelle standing at the ocean gives me a feeling of peace. This is how waiting should be. No worries. Enjoying the moment in wonder.

It has been the anthem of our lives. Waiting. We finally got past the frustration, realizing that we as people have no control over this process. It IS in God's time line and His reasoning is not something to be grasped by our human brains. This comes from a person that struggles with co-dependency. The need to control and organize situations can be overwhelming for me at times. Believing that it is up to me and how I do things in order to make things happen. Finally understanding that this is not true, has been first frustrating then freeing.

It is only by letting go of the need to "make things happen" that brings about God's perfect peace. God says in II Corinthians 12:9 - that His grace is sufficient for me. Sufficient. Enough. His word also says in Romans 8:28 - that ALL things work to the good for those who love the Lord. In Jeremiah 29:11 - he says that he KNOWS the plans he has for me! So, He is Sufficient, he works all things out for good, and he has a plan! He then tells me in Matthew 6:34 not to worry about tomorrow... and in Proverbs 3:5- He tells me to acknowledge Him in all my ways and HE will direct my path. Finally in 1 Peter 5:7 - he says to me... upon me and I will sustain you.

I am not sufficient in my humanness, I tend to mess things up and I have not a clue on a plan! So, who wants to follow me? Not me! I choose Christ. The cool thing is He chooses us too, his word also says in Hebrews, that He will not leave me or forsake me. God will not leave or forsake our / His children Ruthfaelle and Mackenson... He has a plan for their lives, He is with them, he will work all things out for them. This brings us so much comfort and is truly humbling to us as well. It is not up to US. These two beautiful children belong to Him. We wait on the Father to decide what is best for His children.

How we use our time is important as well. This is something that has become a burden on my heart. I will be sharing more about that down the road. I picked up a book called ">Before You Were Mine
Today we will be worshiping with our children. Talon will be with us physically, Ruthfaelle and Mackenson will be in Haiti however, we will be worshiping the same God. I LOVE that! I love that our little ones are in a place that worships Jesus Christ.

I pray that today you will experience Christ's love for you in a very real way.

Waiting Here For You...

2011-11-18T15:53:00.000-08:00

....5 months with the attorney and we have not moved forward at all. We don't know why. No explanation. Someone asked me yesterday if maybe God was trying to tell us something? Other than we have to wait, I don't believe God is telling us this isn't meant to be. We can not imagine going to the orphanage and telling our kids that Papa Dennis and Mama Kimberly think God is telling them not to adopt them because this is just too hard and it's taking too long. That is not an option. The option is waiting. I know it wasn't said in that spirit, but We don't know why, we don't know for how long. God is still in control and we have learned the hard way, His ways and His time are not the same as ours. My mind sometimes tells me I should be upset and doing something about this and yet there is nothing we can do? Pray and wait on God.

Ruthfaelle's 8th birthday is tomorrow. She is growing up into such a beautiful young girl. I look forward with expectations of great birthdays shared with all of our children and know there will be more shared than missed. We hold on to that.

Singing a song at New Life Church this week end that I've heard before, but it has really ministered to me today...

Thank you for your prayers...
By His Grace Alone..

Moving forward....I think....

2011-09-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

Not a lot of change. We did get word that our dossier should be into the IBESR in the next 2 -3 weeks. That was very good news as we have been waiting to hear that for over a year now.

We have no idea how much longer our wait will be but we are moving ever so slowly forward.

Sometimes I miss them so much I can barely stand it. I was walking down the hall at work the other day and started thinking about what they might be doing right that moment and I started to cry. I had to keep it contained as I felt if someone would have walked by at that very moment and asked if I was ok, I would have dropped my lunch on the floor and just fell to my knees and sobbed. I sometimes just can't wrap my brain around how long this has taken. This road has been so long and so hard and so emotional and sometimes I just feel so tired and weary. I was able to regain my composure and made it back to my desk. I emailed Bonnie, she is my arms, legs, feet, hands, kisses and hugs for our kids. I am so grateful to her for that.

So, a few weeks to get to IBESR and only God knows the rest...for that I am equally grateful for. God knows. I love you Lord!

Ask and you shall recieve....

2011-06-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

I'm kind of cheating and using an email I sent to two very incredible women that blessed us by putting together a video of Ruthfaelle and Mackenson put to the song of "While I'm waiting" They blessed us in a way that was so overwhelming...I tried to post the video on here but couldn't.

Hey, I just had to tell you two just exactly what you have been a part of. Today as I was walking to get my lunch I was talking to Jesus and thanking him for the things he has shown me with this adoption this past week or so. I have been really needy lately with him about this and asked for "more". I knew when I asked that He understood although a part of me felt embarrassed for it....I accepted that what he had done earlier for me was amazing and that I could patiently wait.
Well, Denny and I were sitting and talking about a new job he is taking. It is a bit scary and the kids are always at the forefront of all of our decisions. We have been talking for days about if he should make this change.
I was going online to check my email and saw the post and of course it peaked my interest and I went to facebook, which normally during a deep conversation I wouldn't do :) but God had it planned just right...I stopped him and thought we were going to watch a video with not just us but other adoption families..as it went on we both were just blown away. I was crying so hard I could hardly see...haha..all I could think was "I asked for more and I got it!" God used the two of your hearts in such a huge, huge way... I haven't stopped crying...good crying though. I just had to tell you the "whole story" I love you both with all my heart and honestly this is probably one of the most amazing thing that has been done for us through this process. You blessed us beyond measure...

Another sister and dear friend, Becky, said this "remember He is also waiting for us to return home someday so He knows how you feel" I thought that was just the best perspective I've ever heard...what a cool thought.

We are surrounded by a crowd of God's people that speak truth and love into our lives on a daily basis. I am so overwhelmed by the show of God's love in our lives. The prayers that go up on the behalf of our adoption is crazy amazing to me. The things that God does behind the scenes on their behalf we will never know.

Thank you Jesus for being not only the best friend a girl could ever have, but my Savior, redeemer...help and my strength. I love you so much....thank you for loving me the way you do...

Be Still and Know...

2011-06-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

I was having a bit of a struggle at work today not being able to focus. So I grabbed my bowl to make oatmeal in the cafeteria and have a little "Jesus Time" I felt His presence so greatly as I poured out my heart..."I’m preoccupied with this whole thing, worrying as to why the attorney is not showing up and I know we are not going to hear from them from quite awhile, I really need to trust you Lord and pull myself together” Jesus said “I’m here” and I teared up a little and said quietly “show me”…

I went back to my desk, opened my computer and saw an email from our Adoption Agency- it said "Attorney" in the subject line! My heart kind of stopped as I opened the email.
It went on to explain that they had been in contact with the attorney several times and her plan was that she needed to wait until she had our Dossier in her hands so that she could work with the kids dossier. It made sense. I was so taken back by God's immediate response to my need. There are times when I need to hear something and other times when I NEEEEED to hear something and it always amazes me that He knows the difference. Actually I guess it's me that is learning the difference as continues to build my trust in him with our kids.

About an hour later I received ANOTHER email saying that the attorney received our Dossier today in Haiti....hahahaha... I LOVE THIS!!!

Oh MY GOD IS! He tells me to be still and KNOW... just know...
Thank you Lord for loving us so much and caring about every detail of our lives. I'm never NOT amazed by you....

Feelin the love today....whoo-hoo!!

Not feelin the love...

2011-06-13T14:39:00.001-07:00

I heard today it will be about 3 months before our dossier and the kids dossier is submitted to the IBESR, yepper-doodles. 3 months. 12 weeks. 1 quarter of a year.
Oddly enough I'm pretty peaceful. God says "Be Still and KNOW that I am God" I'm going to do that...this is me, being still....

Update...

2011-06-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

Well, it's not really much of an update. Currently our Dossier is complete and I believe on it's way to the attorney in Haiti. The attorney was going to be in contact with the orphanage on getting the kids Dossier done, but I have heard that she has yet to show up there. Par for the course I suppose. Nothing seems to EVER be that cut and dry for us. So, hoping that she is doing things behind the scenes and remembering that GOD is STILL in control. It will be a happy day to finally have an IBESR number.

I was sitting on the couch looking at one of our walls with all of the pictures on it. We have both kids integrated into our family photos already because, well, how can we NOT? however, sometimes it just seems like a cruel joke and they aren't ever REALLY coming home. It always feels a million years away. Always hoping for the next big event in our lives to be shared with them....maybe Fathers Day? Maybe Their Birthdays? Maybe Christmas?? Maybe Mothers Day? Maybe Talon's baseball games?? and then we start the whole process over waiting and hoping that one of these special days we will have them with us...maybe this year? maybe early next year...

Holding on to this vision that God gave us is not always easy when everything seems to be barely moving. But! the keyword there is MOVING and it is moving. For that we are grateful. It's our hope.

We believe God IS sovereign and his ways are perfect and although we may get frustrated with the process, we still believe.

We miss our kids. Our hearts and arms yearn for them and ache with the knowledge that they are so far away from home. Grateful for the Arms of God that hold them and love them through so many, but jealous to be those arms as well.

Some day. Some day this Will be behind us I know and we will be sharing stories of what they did today, I can't wait!!
Thank you for your prayers, love and support. We know that you have been on your knees for us and that means a great deal to us.

Blowing kisses xx

Hello Heart...

2010-12-18T19:31:00.000-08:00

We received a few pictures today via facebook from some really dear friends that have remembered us while there bringing over 100 kids some Christmas love.
It's bittersweet. Seeing new pictures makes our hearts skip a beat as we see the changes from missing teeth to grown back...taller, longer hair, more grown up...changing so quickly and growing up with out us.
Don't get me wrong! We absolutely LOVE getting the photo's...but our hearts miss them desperately and sometimes it just seems like they will never be home with us or that we'll ever see them grow up.
In just a few weeks it will be a year that we have been fighting DAILY to bring them home. We would have never thought.
I know that God knew and I trust him. It's just hard sometimes to believe this will ever have an ending.
Denny and I were talking earlier and it seems like all we've been doing is paper work for the past year and throwing money into a black hole never to produce any fruit or to be seen again and yet we won't give up! There is nothing in us that says we can't do this any more. We will continue to do what ever we need to do for as long as we need to do it.
We are grateful for the blessing of those that are in Haiti with our kids loving them, but we sure will be glad when we have them all to ourselves to kiss and hug and love everyday for the rest of our lives here on earth.
I can't wait for that, that IS my hope and what keeps us fighting for them...
We love them! :) They ARE our children and that will never change, no matter what.

Light at the end of the tunnel!

2010-12-10T13:52:00.000-08:00

We are so grateful, God has brought CCAI into our lives to help us finish this adoption. Amazing! Still not sure how long things will take, but they are willing to help us from were we are and sort through all of stuff to get us on the right track.

Truly a blessing. We will keep you posted on our progress!

Mackenson's 5th Birthday..

2010-11-02T18:10:00.001-07:00

This morning while I was getting ready for work I thought about Mackenson sleeping in his little bed. How I would love to wake him up with a Birthday hug and kiss. I know that he is greatly loved and that he received many, many kisses...yet this was just one more event that we are missing as a family and I'm not going to lie, it's really hard. I felt angry today that our documents are sitting somewhere, going no where..asking God "Why?" why do we have to keep waiting?? Then this flood of his understanding fills me and I know that HE KNOWS..and that there IS a reason..
I apologize and cry..I do know and I do understand that His timing, is perfect!
And someday this WILL all be behind us..like birthing pains, you forget the pain because it is replaced with the pure joy of a living life with the ones we've been waiting for.

Happy birthday beautiful, beautiful boy..we love you so much and can not WAIT to hold you again. What joy you bring my heart just thinking of you...
We Love you..

A Dream

2010-10-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Our Cousin Michelle posted this on my Facebook Page today...it's amazing how this comes on the heal of my post last night...God is so amazing to me.

Michelle Huyser-Sines It has taken me all day to get to your wall and to post for you words of an event in my life today that leave me near speechless!!! After getting kids off to school this morning, I was so exhausted, I came home and went back to sleep. I had a dream.... My dreams are usually vivid and colorful! and YES! so was this on...e! My cousins the Jeltema's were having a fall clean-up party at their home, and this one was a surprise to most anyone attending, as it turned out to be much more than a fall cleaning kind of thing! As I arrived in the back yard, and was greeted by an older gentleman, I looked over and saw a beautiful family! I knew in an instant and broke free from the strangers chat to say--excuse me, my new cousins are there and I need to go meet them! I awoke shortly after running over to greet you all, amidst the blustery winds and the swirling leaves! What an awesome God we have!
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Nothing New..

2010-10-27T19:38:00.000-07:00

Thought I would just update even though there isn't anything really new, it gives me a chance to be me..be emotional and vent and then pull myself back together again quietly.
Our Dossier is in Florida waiting to be taken to Haiti in November. In my mind I'm yelling "NOVEMBER????" Sometimes I am SO... tired of waiting for just ONE thing to happen just so we can wait for the next thing to happen.
It is a process that we really have no control over and for the most part I think we FINALLY grasped that. We may not always be happy about it, but have found that when we try to make things happen, things get messed up. So we wait on our God to do things as only HE can do. We trust him completely even when we just plain don't understand.
Sometimes this journey just doesn't seem real.. are they EVER REALLY going to come home? Will we actually see them in their beds, or look out the back window and see them playing in the back yard, or look in the rear view mirror and see them in the back seat, or sit in church with them in our laps whispering "I love you" in their ear...we want so much to start our lives with them...the good and the bad..
Most likely we are looking at next year before they come home.
Their birthdays are both in November...another year older..

We know. God's time. And honestly, we would not want it any other way.

Be Joyful in hope, patient in afflection, faithful in prayer..Romans 12:12

2010-08-08T05:52:00.000-07:00

The hope that lies within me is so amazing sometimes...I can picture the kids playing in their room, sleeping in their beds and riding in the back of my car...but the most amazing gift of hope God gave to me was while sitting in church in Haiti with Ruthfaelle and Mackenson on my lap. I closed my eyes while worshipping to a song that sounded so familiar, still don't know which song it was, and I felt like I could open my eyes and I would be sitting in my church at home. The visual was so strong and so real. I hold on to this knowing that someday soon...that will happen. I hope that the tissue box is nearby when it does because I'm a messy cryer.

I may fuss about how long everything is taking. I squirm around with impatience, but time and time again God shows me that HE is in control. I have to trust him! My mind wants to figure out ways how to get them home and He keeps showing up and telling me to be hopeful, patient and to pray. To be honest sometimes I don't like that. I just want them home now. I have to look back though over the years of times that I have been impatient and forced things to happen. Not many things, if any really, turned out very well, OR I've had to wait on God to make them right again...that's not something I want for our children or us.

Jesus, I love how you love me. Thank you..

My visit with the kids was so amazing. I loved the time I was able to spend with them. It was hard sometimes to figure out what was best for them while I was there though, because I was torn between having them with me all the time, which to the other children and to them as well...was special treatment. I had to go home eventually and they would go back to life as usual. That balance was hard to find, but after a couple of days I think we figured it out. I was able to go with them in the mornings to get showered and dressed and eat some breakfast. We would spend some time together and then they would go play and I would go work with the team. In the evening I would spend time with them before bed and then put them to bed myself on several occasions...this was wonderful and hard at the same time. I learned a lot about them both...haha...good and naughty...all good though..saying good bye was hard. I don't want to go there another time and leave with out them again...but will if we have to.

our journey continues...and will for a long time, even after they are home right?!
Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!

Mom's turn!

2010-07-15T14:57:00.000-07:00

We were truly hoping that they would be home by now but it seems that is not God's plan. I am going to see them July 23rd - 30 and just can't wait to get my hands on them little bundles of laughter and smiles. They bless my heart in such an amazing way and they aren't even home yet.
Our God is faithful and we know that even if it takes another 2 years we will wait.
Sometimes the waiting gets to me, but not for long. I realize that there is only one reason that they are not home yet and that is because it simply isn't time yet.
One day they will be running around the house laughing and having fun and it will really hit me that "they're HOME" and I'll start crying, sobbing and they won't know why. Kind of like after Denny and I got married. I had been praying for a husband for SO long!! One day I looked out into my living room at the empty chair and thought "one day I'm going to look out there and my husband will be sitting there reading the paper" Well, one day after we got married I was standing in the kitchen and I looked out into our living room at the chair Denny was sitting in reading a magazine...I lost it! I don't remember if I tried to tell him why, but I'll never forget it.
God gives us visions for a reason...so we can be speechless and in AWE when we see it come to pass and HE and only HE receives the Glory and Praises.
I look in my rear view mirror in the car often and think "someday, I'm going to look back there and my kids will be sitting there playing" and they're Mama will just start crying...haha! I can't WAIT for that day!
Thank you Lord for Hope.

God IS...

2010-04-14T06:33:00.000-07:00

That has been the message to me this past month...
God does not need my help to do anything. He has everything under control.
It's funny how I think I understand that and at the same time feel the need to DO something as if this whole adoption process is resting on MY shoulders.
I think Maybe if I email this person or do this or do that it will make things go faster or smoother or better or something...haha..looking back I look ridiculously funny. I'm so very grateful for such a patient, gracious and loving God.

We received the final document for our Home Study update to be completed. I don't know why God needed this to take so long, but it did. I say the document was holding us up and realize what I am saying...it is NOT the document. It is God's perfect timing. I wish I could get this all the time, but I don't...

So, now we send our updated Home Study to get our approval completed for the I600A and the I600. Once we have the approval we can contact the Consulate at the US Embassy in Haiti to make an appointment to finalize everything there. Once we have Haiti's approval we get the kids Visa's and come home..

haha..that sounds so easy doesn't it?! Well, let's just see how this goes, I'm excited to see what God is going to do, I really am :)

Update!

2010-04-02T00:52:00.000-07:00

It's 3:00 in the morning..I've been awake since 1:00..can't sleep. So much tumbling around in my head, most of it useless..I ate a sleeve of thin mint cookies and chased them down with some really cold milk...man that was good! I haven't done that in literally years.

Well, Denny got back on the 29th of March. I don't even know where to begin! It was such a whirlwind of a visit. God showed up in marvelous and unexpected ways proving to me that it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, He is for us and for our kids. I tend to be a firm believer in what other people think of me..crazy, I know..but I don't know how to fix this quite yet..I am definitely a work in progress. I can tell OTHER people not to worry about what people say, but when it comes to me that doesn't apply for some reason. I had started to believe that because we stopped moving forward on the adoption a while back, that we didn't deserve to move forward now. Someone kind of said that to me, in a manner of speaking, and it hurt like hell. I took that judgment to heart and realized she wasn't the only one that felt that way...there ARE others and I felt like I had to tell our story to everyone in order for them to give us their nod of approval..and it's a LONG story..don't worry I won't tell it now :)

It's taken Denny going to Haiti for me to truly see God's heart in all of this. At one point Denny called me for prayer because the kid's father showed up at the orphanage. I was at work and immediately started to send an email, I hit send, and my computer froze up! I became anxious and felt as if the outcome of this visit was determined by this email getting out for prayer. What I felt happen was something I hope I never forget...God gently pushing me into my chair and saying STOP. Stop trying to control this. Just pray now. I was a little embarrassed by this because I could see what I was doing and yet felt like I couldn't stop myself. I did stop and pray and God showed me his heart for this man, the kids father..what compassion! I will always have a place in my heart for this man. and just to stay honest, my computer unfroze and I sent the email out anyway..I really am stubborn as a mule..

The rest of Denny's week was just as adventurous. Vadine came into our lives. She is a nurse from Boston, but born in Haiti. Beautiful woman with a beautiful heart. She has been helping Dennis get everything done. Things that would have taken months possibly. Denny didn't seek her out, she came to the orphanage while he was there, she has been coming since the earthquake and helps. Truly a God thing.
Now we wait on our I600A to be approved, but we need our update home study to be approved, which it it, but we are waiting on Talon's background check which was sent in for the 3rd time..argh! But! I know..it will all work out in God's time..not Kim's time. I watched my husband turn into "Papa" while he was there..never have I loved Denny more than now...He truly is the whole package...there was a reason that I wasn't to go. Denny had the opportunity to build on his relationship with the kids in a wonderful way that if I would have been there, it just wouldn't have been the same...I love this...

Another thing I have taken hold of is this. God may close this door all together at some point and I have to be ok with that. I do finally grasp that God IS Sovereign and His ways are better than my ways. I trust Him with the outcome, even if this ends with our kids never coming home. I have to be ok with that..and although it would hurt, I know I would be ok and most importantly, so would Roudfaelle and Mackenson.

This journey...it's been long...lots of refining going on in this heart and mind.
God really does know us well and the things that need to change in us in order to move forward. I kind of like seeing the things in a crazy sort of way because I know that God is going to free me from them eventuality..refining takes time and a good eye..

Denny's going to see the kids!!

2010-03-05T18:55:00.001-08:00

I'm so excited! Denny is leaving March 21st for a week, to see the kids and help out at the orphanage. I am not going, but it's ok...at least one of us is and he is way more handy than I :)
Still waiting for a death certificate on the Mom...hopefully that will have happened before Denny gets there.

The Journey continues..

2010-02-21T15:42:00.000-08:00

Just about a year ago Denny and I came to the conclusion that our journey of the adoption of Roudfaelle and Mackenson was over...and yet, here we are fighting harder than we ever have and watching our God pull it all together...

We are armed and ready for each event that is rolling up and feeling the support of so many. We are completely surrounded with people that truly, truly love and support us every day. I think I cry every day. But it's a good cry. I'm overwhelmed by the Grace of God and how HE moves in our lives, the kids lives...every single day.

We are always waiting to hear something...and always working on something that has to be done. I've been keeping my mind busy with the planning of a fund raising dinner to help supplement some of the costs, this has been fun for me because I can think about the kids while I'm doing it and do something constructive while we wait.

It's amazing to me that it is true that when you are in Christ all things are possible, not just imaginable, but possible! I find extreme joy in that truth. I'm watching it happen every day in my own life. I would have never thought that God could use ME in this way. Adopting 2 children from another country that I fell in love with on a missions trip to a place that my heart yearned to visit the first time I saw it..nobody but Jesus will ever know the depth of my gratitude. I find that my heart is almost always on it's knee's when it's not shouting with joy.

Please pray for our children, for their peace, for them to feel the joy of the Lord every day. For their safety..and for us to find favor along the way as we try and bring them home after a 3 year wait..thank you so much!

Blessings,
Denny, Kimberly and Talon

I Will Praise You In This Storm...

2008-11-03T13:49:00.000-08:00

Praise You In The Storm by Casting Crowns
I Love You Lord...

My friend Mashonda...

2008-11-01T18:54:00.000-07:00

Wednesday afternoon, life changed....I found out that my friend Mashonda was found dead in her home. ... No this can not be possible. We just had a conversation 9 days ago. How could this be? She was only 35 years old!

We didn't find out the cause of death right away because it was considered a "suspicious death". I prayed that it would be found that she died of natural causes because I was so afraid I couldn't deal with the fact that anyone could hurt her...and honestly afraid I wouldn't be able to deal with God on this level of loss...

I found out Thursday night that it was a homicide... in fact, my dear friend was killed in her own home... I can't describe how I felt sitting on the couch with Denny and watching her mother talk on the news of this great loss...the sadness I felt was so deep and still...
I have to trust him and know that He is Sovereign and for the most part I can hold on to that, but on the other hand....I can't stop thinking why Mashonda Lord? Why? And as I sit here the news is on and I am now listening to them say that two people have been identified as her killer...
It is almost more than my heart can handle to hear them say that these two have been retained for the suffocation and strangulation of Mashonda....my heart races and the tears flow as I struggle NOT to think about what she went through and the very real fact that she is gone.

Mashonda was one of the most amazing women of God I have ever met. The scripture "a good name is better than fine perfume" came to mind the other day. Mashonda had a good name. A name that evoked a smile from anyone that knew her. She always smiled, no matter what was going on in her life...her joy came from the Lord, not her immediate circumstances. She had one of the biggest, kindest hearts a body can house. A hug that would squeeze the juice out of ya and a smile that was truly beautiful and genuine. I witnessed people that she met become friends almost immediately with her. My friends and family fell in love with her when they met her and she has been included in our family for many events. She had one of those personalities that made you feel that you were someone worthy of honor. She had an awesome sense of humor and timing.
Mashonda had an extraordinary ability to speak the truth in love. Not everyone can do that.
I had the opportunity to hear her teach one night, which really....was preaching. I've never stood up and sat down and yelled amen and clapped my hands and laughed and cried in ANY sermon as I did that night, along with a church full of other folks, listened to God's message thru Mashonda. Astonishing!
Not many people can read a chapter or two in the bible and have you sitting on the edge of your seat, but Mashonda had this amazing ability to read God's word in such a way that you wanted to hear more.
Mashonda was a loan officer for a mortgage company. She had some people that came in that she would help rebuild their credit so that in a year or so they would be able to buy a home or keep the one they had. Who does that? And she did it at no charge. She was a very generous person, who rarely put her needs before others...in fact I don't think sher really ever did.
My favorite times with her were when we would be working late together (which was often) and we would have those moments that we could have these deep conversations about the Lord.
Mashonda was a part of our missions and adoption. She was one of the people that wrote a reference for us in the adoption process. She sent beautiful dresses with us to Haiti for the pastors wives and shoes for the kids and older women.
Mashonda was always looking for ways to help. She drove to the east side of the state often to see her mama, who called just about everyday at work to talk to her. They had the most amazing relationship and she cared for her mother so well.
I will miss Mashonda....I know that she is with her Saviour and that heaven is now brighter than ever because of her presence there and with out a doubt will here "Well done, thy good and faithful servant" her treasure was never here on earth but in heaven as it should be and has always been... She no longer has the cares of this world. Her prayers will be missed, for she was a great prayer warrior... a great many peoples lives will be forever changed because of her presence and also because of her departure.
What an amazing legacy this young person has left at 35 years of old, she was as wise as any 90 year old I have ever met.

I'll miss you Miss Mashonda... and so will your men Denny and Talon....they sure loved you as you loved them.... I'll see you again someday and we will dance and sing Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God Almighty! I love you...thank you for pouring into my life and allowing us to pour into yours.

Nothing New...

2008-10-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

There isn't anything new to share. We just keep sending out paperwork believing that every piece of paper is bringing us closer to bringing Roudfaelle and Mackenson home...
We went to the neighbors last night for a neighborhood potluck and bonfire and as we walked over we saw about a dozen of the kids playing together, all ages, just having the greatest time. Talon is with his dad this week end so Denny and I were going over alone. I had this vision of walking with Roudfaelle and Mackenson and Talon, the 5 of us over to our neighbors home and what a wonderful sight we would be. I believe God gives me these little glimpses to keep me focused and full of hope.
I sometimes look in my rear view mirror in my car and can picture them sitting back there in there car seats or boosters....or sitting in the living room in the evening and imagining one of them trailing out with their blanket saying "mommie, I can't sleep"(it will be in Creole probably, but I think we'll know..)
I am blessed to know what that is like already with Talon. I have such amazing memories of sweet, tender, funny, timeless moments that are forever carved in my heart and mind and I look forward to and even sometimes feel anxious to experience the newness of these babies.
Denny has not experienced this yet and I am excited for him. I can't wait to see his face in those moments of parenting that only your kids can give you.
This is what keeps us moving forward...expectant joy!

He Knows My Name....Psalm 139

2008-10-10T16:38:00.000-07:00

I hope you enjoy this video...we are singing it this week in choir and it makes me cry every time I sing it....

He loves you SO much...

2008-09-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

Denny brought these home today and said....they reminded me of the kids...
"whimsical"... I have never heard my husband use this word, ever. Too funny.
But he's right, they are bright and happy and fun and filled the room with color.
I bet Roudfaelle and Mackenson would love a room with all of these colors.
More paperwork tonight, droopy eyes...it's all good!
Blessings to all of you

Failed to mention...

2008-09-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize that I was just complaining with out sharing how much we do realize that this is so totally worth every moment. We want so much to get to the end of the paper trail and bring our kids home! Tammy you are right! Thank you for saying something.
Denny and I would do 3 times the amount over, if required...anything!! to get them home.
It IS totally worth it...
I liken it to having Talon... the labor was long, so, so long...I walked the halls of the hospital trying to get that boy out, but he wasn't comin! and the pain? Lord Jesus the pain, I dreaded every contraction that came...I decided to go natural...ha,ha,ha...oh my! But, when that Dr. told me I could push, I couldn't WAIT for the next contraction. Then Talon arrived and the joy totally superseded any of that and I would have done it again and again. Amazing.
So, these are the labor pains, and I know all of you adoptive parents have said this to me time and time again..."I'd TOTALLY do it again" and some of you have : )
your all crazy! that's why we love you!
ok, I really am going to bed now...

A Sea of Paperwork...

2008-09-23T19:15:00.001-07:00

The amount of paperwork needed to process an adoption is I'm sure illegal in some countries....
Just when I think I have every document since birth, there is more needed...
ah-well...
It's ok. Plowing through, refusing to allow it to drown me. I have anchored myself to the dining room table, so I think I'm pretty safe.

Talon has gone to bed and Denny and I have divided to conquer what we can in an hour...
ha,ha,ha...we're so funny.
The cats are giving moral support or just available for de-stressing.
It is funny though. I remember the first time looking at the word "dossier" and panicking because I had NO IDEA what that was or how to even say it, I think it's french?. Now I'm just used to feeling ignorant and taking one document at a time...we still have so much more to get together. I know you that you veterans are laughing at me right now and shaking your head...
"she thinks she knows whats going on, isn't that cute" I know, I know...
I'm just trying to trick the paperwork into thinking I know what I'm doing, that way it will just fall into place without a hitch.
I'm tired. I've been up since 5:00 and it's only 10:15 (she says while yawning) but I have so much to do!! (yawning again)
ok, one more document to look at and I'm going to bed...really, I am!
Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow...

Reaping The Harvest...

2008-09-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

Some new photos...

Mackenson - 3 years old...

Roudfaelle - age 4...going on 5 in November

The pictures of Roudfaelle courtesy of our dear friend Shelly, who actually spent a week at the orphanage and got to spend some time with Roudfaelle and Baby Mackenson. Thank you Shelly!!

One of my favorite pictures of Roudfaelle

Roudfaelle wearing the dress we sent her and holding the baby doll we sent her.

We have known for a few weeks now that our Homestudy is approved but waiting for it to come in the mail for a week now for us to review and send back for the final, completed, signed and stamped document so we can move forward to step 2 of many steps in this process.

While working in the yard Denny saw he had a message on his phone from our agency and it said that she needed something else from us...WHAT??? You have GOT to be kidding me! Questions?
Still? it's been how long?? How much longer now? Another week? Two weeks? I started on an emotional rampage in my brain and I think a few bloopers may have come out of my mouth beneath my breath that normally wouldn't. We were cleaning up tree branches in the front yard that Denny had cut down and before I knew it, I had the whole yard picked up... When I'm frustrated or upset I tend to clean...really, really fast...at least I'm productive. Denny had gone in the house to get ready to play drums at church Saturday night and said he tried to call her, but no answer...

I just thought "cmon Lord, this homestudy has taken over 5 months, and it should have only taken 4 -6 weeks, yes, we got an approval and I'm so thankful for that, I really am! But what good is it if we can't get the finished product? I know you have reasons for everything and that you are in control, but this is just the homestudy, we still have so far to go and the kids are getting bigger every day and they need to come home...please Lord, when will this be finished?"

Denny went to church and I finished working in the yard. He came home and said our agency had tried to call him again and left another message that she had emailed our homestudy to us and we needed to review it and send it back. REALLY!? No WAY!! SERIOUSLY??? We were both
so excited, but discovered she sent it to my work email....ARGH!!! and of course I was trying to figure out how to get it from my work and Denny's response was simply, call her and ask her to resend it to the house email.....right....silly me. Within an hour maybe, we had it!!

I couldn't believe it, after 5 months we actually are SEEING the approval. It's beautiful! If we could frame it, I would...but that would just be silly... so we read it and only a few small corrections were made and sent back to her for our final FINAL.

It seems as if God really does know how much I can take....or should I say, not take. This is the second time God has revealed himself to me in this process right at the precise moment I didn't think I could mentally or emotionally take any more. I had no idea how much of a roller coaster ride this really is. People tell you, but until you are in it, it's just like nothing we've ever experienced before and even though God truly has moved mountains, it still doesn't seem REAL. The kids are not home yet. We have a big brother waiting for them, their bedroom, bed and dresser...a back yard...possible tree house in the making... and lots of dreams... but no kids...

We know that this process is not easy, or fast... but the thought has not crossed our minds, not once to ever give up. Is it frustrating? yes! Is it emotional? oh yeah! Is it worth it? Can't imagine that it it's not worth every tear and every moment of waiting... The very IDEA that God would allow this amazing process to be a part of our lives is to say the at the very least...humbling.
I am blessed to have had a child of my own, Talon, and he is my very heart. The fact that God would give us the opportunity to raise 2 children together, as our very own, is just more than Denny and I would have ever thought possible.

Thank you Lord...for restoring our lives and giving us back what the enemy stole from us both... it's only through you that this is possible... we LOVE you Jesus, thank you.

Here is the chorus of the song Faithful is Our God, it pretty much says it all for me...

I'm reaping the harvest God promised me
Take back what the devil stole from me
And I rejoice today, for I shall recover it all
Yes I rejoice today, for I shall recover it all.

Here's the video, enjoy!

Please Pray for Haiti....

2008-09-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked about our little ones during the blast of hurricanes that have gone thru Haiti and they are still safe! However on the orphanages blog they have posted what is going on around them and I'm going to post it here because you need to know so you can pray. You can also go to their site at Cabaret Kids

Here is their post:

Monday, September 8, 2008

Sheltered by His Hand

Our internet is down so Kelley is relaying messages from us for now. We promise photos when internet is restored.

On fri. we flew past Hannah returning to Haiti. We found the children and mission safe and undamaged.

We began feeling the effects of Ike around midnight sat. the worst of the storm hit from 2-3 a.m. not much wind, but torrential rain. Cabaret was flooded, several of our workers lost homes or all of their belongings. Roads and bridges have been washed away. We saw thousands of people headed south on foot, they have no where to go, but they cannot stay where they were. They have lost everything, homes, crops, and animals. They have no clean drinking water or food. It is an incredible sight. The Missions is in a very real way an island of safety in a sea of devastation. There was more rain this afternoon.

I saw a lady standing up to her knees in the mud of what had been the main highway here. She was singing “he hideth my soul in the depths of his love and shelters me there with his hand”. What a faith to still be singing when his hand is your only shelter.

Please also see the posting below from The Livesays Site

September 9, 2008

Update - Pressing Needs

We’ve heard from many that you feel helpless and wish you could do something about some of the areas that were hardest hit by the recent storms. We agree that it feels difficult to know how to help.

Today we were sent photos from the area of Cabaret that were incredibly horrible and graphic. I won't post them here but I will say that they are literally pulling dead babies and children out of muddy river beds and stacking the bodies in trucks. People have lost their children, their mothers, their brothers and friends. All because of some rain. It breaks our hearts.

For those concerned about the Zachary family and the Real Hope for Haiti mission and the people of the Cazale and the surrounding areas - please keep them in your prayers.

Many were swept away in the water and lost loved ones and homes and possessions. State Farm Insurance is not cutting checks in two weeks, two months or ever. These losses are huge. They will have long-lasting effects on these areas.

Licia is holding down the fort while her Dad and sister are away in Indiana but reports that things have been more than grim there. She needs tons of encouragement and strength that only God can give to get through these next days and weeks.

Tomorrow we’re renting a truck and filling it with what we can and praying for the best, we hope to meet some of her people and get the stuff across an area where the road has washed away. They need clean water. Pray that water and filters will get there tomorrow.

If you wish to support this family and their ministry efforts please don’t email them (they’re so busy) or me (we have limited access right now) - any information you might need about what they do in Cazale and their work can be found on their blogs.

Also you might consider contacting Jamie Ivey at jamie@aaronivey.com and she will give you multiple ways to donate money to the Real Hope for Haiti ministry. If a deduction is important to you, please know that RHFH is a registered 501C3 and you will be receipted for your gift. You can do it on line, or you can do it the old fashioned way. Jamie can provide you with testimonials and references if you need to hear more before you give.

Our testimonial:
Troy and I have watched this family and their work for three years and we can tell you that they give sacrificially to the area they serve and that they are “the real deal”. There is nothing easy about what they do. We believe that their ministry is an amazing and gritty and hard-core way of being the hands and feet of Jesus to a lost and hurting world. We leave after a few hours exhausted by what we’ve seen – they live it - Every. Single. Day. They humble us, they impress us ... they need us to return some love right now.

When given an offer to be picked up/helped out (by the US gov't) and taken out of the area - Licia refused … They are committed to the people they serve and the best way WE ALL can SERVE THEM is by prayers – prayers and more prayers along with generous financial gifts.

We hope you’ll get on board.

They are filtering muddy river water through towels for drinking -- they cannot get anywhere due to roads washing away – they are being brought bodies lost in the storm - and this is on top of caring for multiple sick people and 75+ children in a rescue center. The pressure of the need is crushing.

If every person reading sent what it would cost to go out to eat, or approximately $30 - not only would it free them up to make some decisions about how to help in their community, but it would encourage them and it would be confirmation for them that they are not alone. If 700 readers sent $30 – the ministry would have 21K to work with in the next few weeks. The greatest effect we could all have – would be to donate the money immediately. Not tomorrow, not when you think of it this weekend – right now. PLEASE do it today. It is rally time.

Thank you. Your money will directly help victims of the storms in Haiti. I promise you that.

Thursday has its own plans developing … But we’ve learned in Haiti – it is best to take it just one day at a time.

May God cover us all tomorrow and may His people in Cazale, Haiti feel loved and encouraged and may relief come to them all soon.

Amen.

N’ap pale avek ou demen – si bondye vle.

Relevant Article-
Miami Herald
(We live very near the airport and have seen a huge increase in helicopter traffic, hopefully those helicopters are getting where they are most needed.)

One Child or Two Lord......FIVE????

2008-09-07T11:41:00.000-07:00

(Four out of the FIVE....)

Yesterday we went to a missions conference at Lighthouse Community church called the Isaiah Project. It truly was more than we expected. The speakers were excellent and inspiring. I don't know how many times I had tears rolling down my face during the day, but it was often. The first being with the first speaker for Gospel for Asia. I had no idea that there are 3 BILLION people in the world that don't even know who Jesus is. Never heard of Him. There are 300 MILLION orphans in the world and you just know it has to go up everyday....that is 1/2 of the United States!! That is mind blowing. There is a ministry going on in India that I have to tell you about.....not only were we unaware of the people in India that are segregated from the rest and referred to as Dalits , who are almost 700 million people in number, and of the ministry that has come out of Dalit leadership. One man had the courage to stand up in front of a gathering of Dalits 100,000 in number, and let them know that they had a right to choose what ever faith they wanted to follow, even Christianity....there were a few Christian speakers there as well that day, one of them being the President of Gospel of Asia, K.P. Yohannan . Out of that came a ministry called the Bridge of Hope program which "has more than 42,000 children enrolled, giving them an education, meeting physical needs, and sharing with them the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ." This concept of course could only come from God because to think of how this works is so simple yet so mind blowing....The Dalits who "are considered by upper castes to be repulsive and subhuman" their children are learning to read God's word and then taking this home to their families. Parents and family members are being brought to Christ through their children.

More and more God is showing me the very real importance and potential of our children. They are so smart and so able to discern God at such an early age, if we only give them the opportunity. I think sometimes as parents we don't realize how deep their souls run. They are so valuable and yet when you look at the numbers, 300 MILLION of them.....have no parents, no HOME, no food, no LOVE, no encouragement of a future, no HOPE....

So, how can we help? Adopting one little girl seems so big and yet it still seems so small....there are still 299 million children left....including her little brother, Mackenson.

So, we will, we are opening ourselves up to the fact that if we can take in one? why not two? I have in mind a total of 5 that we fell in love with, but my poor husband would have a heart attack! but a part of me still thinks why not? People raise 5 -6 -7 -8 and more children....and maybe and this is Denny's thought, which I love....what about children from all over the world??? Talk about diversity?

How awesome would that be (Yonker family leading by example) (also Bren - Nate...that would mean your family would literally double)

I know it seems insane....doesn't it? No? Yes?

ALSO....
We don't know where God is leading us in Missions right now, we thought it was Haiti, but doors keep getting closed, outside of the adoption....we know that we are being called, but we don't know where to. So we are asking God to show us or that we would recognize the fact that we are already doing it....One request, please don't pray for patience for us ok!? Seriously, don't! Between this and the adoption, we're good....mostly we just want to HEAR from God and 2nd request is that we would have all of the finances we need to bring both of these beautiful babies home. (or all 5, which is insane, but I had to say it) God DOES move mountains, but as my husband pointed out "but probably not all at once" He's probably right...

Anyway, I'd like to share this last thought....
Something our boy Troy Livesay said was "if you don't know what God's will for your life is, you're probably not in it" he's right. If you don't know, ask God to show you His will for your life.
I encourage you to spend time with Him and get to know Him. It's definitely a relationship worth investing in.

God Bless you in YOUR journey with Him.
kj

Internet Access....Finally!!!

2008-09-03T16:53:00.000-07:00

We have been without Internet since July 1st!
It's good to be back.
We have so much that has happened in this time.

We sold our home (when it wasn't for sale) and bought a house in 3 weeks time.
Totally God's thing....it's an awesome story, but for some reason I just don't want to tell the whole thing right now...it's crazy though...here's a picture of the back of it, somehow I haven't managed to get a picture of the front...

We needed a bigger house since apparently our family WILL be getting bigger...

Our Home Study is finished and APPROVED!!
We give all glory to God, because we know without Him this would never even have
been a glimmer in our hearts.
On to the next step...
Getting orphanage approval, which we believe should go fairly quick.

I'll stay on it and keep you informed. Thank you so much for your prayer and emails to
find out what has been going on. We love you all : )

Amazing...

2008-05-27T19:02:00.001-07:00

Very Sad News....

2008-05-22T03:26:00.000-07:00

"Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter is struck, killed by car"

You can click on the Headline Above for the full story.

Last night Denny came to bed, I was just barely awake, and he told me about this.
I cried. I don't know Steven Curtis Chapman personally, but I have met him and had a conversation with him about the song "Fingerprints of God" that I love for my son Talon. He seemed like a very gentle, caring person. He and his wife, Mary Beth have such huge heart's for international adoption and are well known in the "Adoption world" so to hear of the loss of his youngest daughter, Maria, who is from China, broke my heart just that much more. I'm sure millions of others feel the same way.

Please pray for this amazing family.
May God richly bless you today...

Friends are truly a gift from God...

2008-05-20T16:47:00.000-07:00

I sent out an email yesterday asking for prayer after finding out that we have another 2 weeks to wait and I was just SO blessed by our friends responses of support and encouragement. Everyone had a scripture to share and prayers to offer...I'm just so grateful for all of you.

One of the things that really ministered to me though was an email from my friend Shirley, this is what it said:

You know Kimberly, while I was reading this I was reminded that often delays are for God to move people where they need to be to get His will done. Relax, He is in control. He loves you and wants to fill your desires. Shirley

I printed that out and put it up in my little cubicle at work as a reminder that God DOES have reasons for everything! That was another great response that I received, mainly from my husband...who, funny enough, is usually the one that gets frustrated with "stuff"...

Thank you for your prayers, I know that Rudphael is in God's hands and in God's time he will let us know what we need to do.

Blessings to all of you....

Adoption Update...

2008-05-19T14:47:00.000-07:00

Two More Weeks?

It seems like all we're ever going to hear is......4 - 6 weeks, 30 days, a week or so and now...maybe 2 weeks more.
Apparently a form needed back from the state has been sent in wrong about 6 times and with out it, our file can not even be looked at...it's been sitting somewhere waiting for a piece of paper for 5 weeks and 2 days...

Our Social Worker did say that the form had been corrected and may be back today and not to worry, that she had a "feeling" we would get approved, and although it cheered my heart to hear that, it was short lived. I understand that "feelings" aren't anything we can take to the bank.

So, I guess we're closer? I don't know, I'm just trying really hard to keep this in perspective of God's timing I know is perfect and that I can trust him with this completely. For now. I will be taking it back and giving it over several times I'm sure.

Blessings to you, thank you for your prayers and for checking in.

East to West - Casting Crowns...

2008-04-25T19:11:00.000-07:00

Jesus Thank You For Loving Me So Much....

My Husband...my love

2008-04-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Denny had to have surgery for a Hernia on Tuesday. He's never had surgery for anything so this was all new for him. A bit nerve racking. He's a worker and can't stand not being able to do his job. Even on our trips to Haiti he's working, working, working....he thrives on it...
Getting ready for this was a major event for him and I totally get it. It isn't that he thinks he's irreplaceable, actually quite the opposite. Which I think is pretty typical for men. It's how most of them are wired.
Provider. My hero. In control and has a plan. I love that about Denny. He can fix anything. I never worry about things going wrong and if they do, I don't worry about the outcome because Denny is wired to "make it work" and he does. We are a good team I think.
His surgery went really well Tuesday. In at 10:30 and home by 3:30. Feeling pretty good for the most part. Wednesday morning he woke up and needed a little help getting up, lots of pain... I helped him sit up and he took a minute to sit. I walked into the other room and thought I heard a "thud"...I turned back and Den was laid out on the couch where he slept... I thought at first he was goofing and had given up trying to get up, but when I leaned into him I realized his eyes were just staring straight ahead, and he wasn't moving.
I shouted his name, I pulled on his arm....I panicked...my first thought, I think, was that he had a heart attack and he was dead, then I thought maybe he'd gone into shock...all of a sudden he made a snoring noise...so I started hitting him on his chest...I don't know why I did that...
I had the phone in my had and new I had to dial 911, but for the life of me I just stared at the phone like I didn't understand the numbers...it was bizarre. I just said "Jesus Please" and as I tried to dial 911, the phone was ringing in making it impossible for me to dial out...
I threw that phone accross the room and found my cell phone and as I was dialing new I had to be able to tell the person on the other end, what was going on and where we were. I was standing in front of Denny and he woke up while I was dialing the phone and said "what?" At this point the dispatcher for 911 answered the phone and I was trying to tell Denny what I was doing and why and the dispatcher was asking me questions. Denny said "I don't need an ambulance, I'm fine"......Right, ok, NOT!!! He had no idea what had happened.

The EMS people showed up in record time and talked with Denny. He seemed fine, normal...they encouraged us to go to the hospital. Denny got his first ride in an ambulance. He is so funny, he totally was goofin with the drivers. I knew that he was ok, but it was good to find out for sure.
We spent the next 5 hours at the hospital while they ran tests. Everything came back great! Praise the LORD! They think it was the pain and the anesthetic that caused him to pass out.

He is home and doing very well. Sleeping lots.
Needless to say, my heart grew just a little bit fonder for my husband, which quite honestly I didn't think possible. We've been through a lot together and we've been blessed enough to have it bring us closer together instead of apart. I really didn't think I could love him MORE, but I do.

He's my husband, my hero....my love.

Thirty Days...

2008-04-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

Well. We had the interview.
I don't know how it could have gone any better. We were SO proud of Talon.
He did such a fine job answering questions, with out any direction from us and then
in his one-on-one, just shined!
We walked away feeling pretty good, but it ain't over til it's over and that will be another 30 days!
So we wait, and we're ok with that. We would rather wait and have her put together a wonderful "yes" instead of hurrying and slapping us with a big fat "no". So, were good!

I read this on my friend Susie's website and I'd like to share it, it ministered to me and I hope it
will minister to you too...

The phrase “timing is everything” is never more true than in your walk with God. However, it is most accurately stated, “His timing is everything.”

When we come to a place where we trust that God’s timing is perfect, we can be content no matter where we are because we know that God will not leave us there forever.

Maintaining a passion for the present means embracing where we are at this time and trusting that it is enough.

Being grateful for what we have doesn’t mean we will never have more. God doesn’t say, “If you’re so happy where you are, I’ll just leave you there.” He continually keeps us growing and moving along the path.

If you are not in a place you want to be right now, refuse to let that frustrate or intimidate you.

The good news is that if you are in an uncomfortable place, God guarantees you won’t stay there. It’s just a matter of time before things change. The bad news is that if you are in a good place right now, it won’t last forever.

You’ll soon be moved into stretching beyond your comfort zone.

Get ready for the ride!

When we don’t have a clear leading from the God, we can never be certain we are in His will.

It’s so much easier to be content with the step we’re on if we know God has a purpose for us being there.

People who are not certain about God’s will for them, will give up and leave at the earliest indication of problems.

They will never know the joy of going through the fire and getting to the glory.

Walking with God means living moment by moment with Him in the present.

Some people live in the past.

Some people live for the future.

Other give no thought to future or past, living only for the moment.

We need to find a balance.

We must live in the present as if we don’t have a past, certain that the steps we take today will determine our future.

God says you are not to be anxious about tomorrow, for there will be plenty of things to concern you when you get there.

You are to trust that He will give you the light you need, where you are right now, to take the right step.

We Have An Interview Date!

2008-04-11T03:56:00.000-07:00

Well. It's here. It took us 7 months just to get to this moment...
Yesterday I arrived at work, turned on my computer and opened my email.
There was an email from our adoption lady that started out "your clearance came back, you have to redo it, I've resent the forms to you" ....Heavy Sigh...I thought this stupid form is going to hold us up forever....I kept reading and she said "Will this Saturday work for a visit?" My heart leapt! REALLY? We're ready for the interview??? I called Denny and told him the exciting news and said are we available? Hmmmm...let me see, are we available??? YES!!!
I realized Talon would be with his Dad and that we would need to get him and hope that they didn't have plans already....this would mean we would have to have a 2nd interview.... BUT Talon's Dad said "Sure!".... YAHOO!! Ok...

I sat at my desk, after I read the email, and my emotions were all over the map. I was excited, I cried at the idea that "we are this close" to having our daughter and then thought "we are this close to losing our daughter". The reality of answer that can change our lives forever either way is overwhelming.... A good friend emailed me and gave me Jeremiah 29:11, actually TWO friends did....and it says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (I'm going by memory here, so forgive me if I'm off a little) But it's one of my favorite verses. I know God doesn't want to hurt us or Rudphael, so we are going to trust HIM with the out come...

Last night I made a face at Denny, kind of like giving him the raspberry without sticking out my tongue...(guess you had to be there) anyways, he and Rudphael played that together and he just said "I wonder if I'll ever get to do that with my daughter again".... crying now.

Please, we covet your prayers you warriors!!
oh Lord, we pray that YOUR will would be done in Rudphael's life and in ours. We pray that if this adoption is to be that NOTHING will stand in it's way. We know that with you Lord, that all things are possible, if it is your will. So we trust you with the outcome and will praise you either way because we know that you have a plan and it doesn't involve hurting any of us. You are a sovereign God. Thank you so MUCH for allowing us to even be a part of Rudphael's life in what ever form that takes. We are SO blessed. We love you Lord, in all circumstances. In Jesus Name, AMEn.

We're Waiting, We're waiting...

2008-04-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

I've been holding off to blog because I was told that we would have an interview date for our Home Study, given to us on Monday.....I'm so funny. I really want to believe that when we are told something in the adoption process that it will actually happen... but it's ok. We know that God is still the one in control. I just find myself getting frustrated with handing over a bunch of dough and not hearing anything day after day. The check got cashed apparently..opps, be careful not to slide into sarcasm here...
So, we wait some more, believing for what tomorrow will bring.

Kind of like waiting for Spring to stay. There's evidence of it here. The weather is, well we're in Michigan so it's always changing...but you know what I mean. Some of the crocus' are up, the bright new green is coming through the ground for the Daffodils and tulips to make there arrival soon. I absolutely LOVE Spring. "Will the roses and lilacs come back? oh and what about the new stuff I planted last year? Will that come back?" There is that excitement of new opportunities to get outside more, make the garden bigger, the grass will be so green that even those darn moles will have to respect that, going for long walks and getting the bikes out again. I won't waste another summer day in the house cleaning or napping this year...

With this adoption comes the excitement of new opportunity to be better parents. We see evidence of it in our conversations and our planning. We want to make sure she follows the path God has set before her and not us. We'll teach, we'll play, we'll not waste another day in the house cleaning or napping...(the naps I confess, I'll miss) Will the things we teach her take root? Will we miss something? This new life that may come into our lives depending on us for care. It's exciting and scary. Spring isn't really scary, well maybe with the idea of "shorts weather" being just around the corner, it's a little scary... but it just seems to hold the same kind of wonderful expectations and beauty.

So, we wait. We wait for the flowers to come up and we wait to find out if we will be approved to be parents of a beautiful flower in Haiti.

In the mean time:

We will be returning to Haiti in October. We really were not sure, but it appears God has other plans and isn't done with us there yet. We thought we had gone on our last "missions" trip to Haiti...go figure?!
We are excited. A lot of interest has risen up in our church and we are really looking forward to seeing what God is up to with the people he is drawing. Lives being changed and challenged.

I'll keep you posted on the interview date.

Life Happenings....

2008-03-31T16:49:00.000-07:00

Talon finished up yet another year of Basketball. He is such a super athlete. He and his team mates never fail to amaze us. They, "The Cobra's" are a tight team. They have been playing together for many years. It is so fun to watch them as individuals progress in their abilities. Some of them play in other sports together and even attend school together. Some are growing up and moving on to new places and some of them are new faces to the team. They always play as though they have all known each other forever...I guess some of them have. It's pretty cool as a parent to watch them all....

Here are a few pictures:

The KVO Cobra's Rock!

Misc...

2008-03-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

Well, one step closer... we FINALLY got all of our
documents done and in the mail today! Actually,
I think Denny is dropping them off personally to
peed things up a bit. The next and last step of this
home study is the interview(s) which will hopefully
be scheduled in the next few weeks. We know it will
be on a Saturday, we just don't know which one...so we wait.

Mighty To Save...

2008-03-20T16:13:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine had this posted on her blog and I thought it was perfect for the celebration of Easter Sunday....

Don't Get Comfortable...

2008-03-13T18:29:00.000-07:00

In the past months God has been directing me to the words"a new song". It started with Psalm 33 :3 - Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy...
It hit me so hard but I wasn't sure why. For me it could have meant a couple of things... then there was "The Revelation Song" which crazy enough is from "Revelations" 5:12
Part of that song is "worthy is the, Lamb who was slain, Holy, Holy is He...Sing a new song, to Him who sits on, Heavens Mercy Seat" I heard that and thought, "ok Lord, I'm Listening"

THEN, one day about 4 months ago I'm driving to work, praying while I drive. It's my time in the morning with the Lord that is just Him and I talking back and forth and this day I was asking for some understanding on what He is trying to tell me with "sing a new song" What do you mean? After figuring I wasn't going to get answer that day, I turned the radio on and the song below was playing... the words that were playing were at the chorus:

I am gonna show you what I mean
I am gonna love like you've never seen
You are gonna live like you used to dream
This is your new song...

I don't remember ever falling into tears as quickly as I did that moment...I literally didn't think I could drive. I was overwhelmed with the undeniable evidence of God's answer to my question. I was not prepared for this kind of love. How can God possibly love ME this much? I was a mess! It was not pretty, but it sure was joyous. I hope I never forget that moment.

Every so often I would hear the song and crank it, I didn't know the name of the song, or who sang it for a long time. Finally I got all the information and went and bought the CD.
I know that God ministers to me with music a lot and this is one of those times he is using a song to keep me focused on HIM and not on what I think I see or what I think I know. God is showing me, loving me, and giving me my new song, I believe I'm in the midst of that. Sometimes I think "How can I DARE believe that I could EVER LIVE like I used to dream?" It is too much for my peanut brain to comprehend, truly! So I'm just taking Him at His word. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future"

This recording isn't the best, the words are below as well, but it will give you a good idea anyway.
I hope it blesses you today too.

by Brandon Heath

Comfortable, don't get comfortable.
I am gonna' move this mountain
then I'm gonna move you in.

Yesterday, this is not yesterday.
You were standing on my shoulders now;
you're standing on the edge.
You've been looking for a sign all this time.

I am gonna show you what I mean
I am gonna love like you've never seen
You are gonna live like you used to dream
This is your new song

So afraid but you don't have to be afraid
Even if you make mistakes
You know that I'll remain

You've been looking for a sign all this time.
If you seek you'll find me every time.

So I am gonna show you what I mean
I am gonna' love like you've never seen
You are gonna live like you used to dream
THIS IS YOUR NEW SONG

Can you feel the call of love?
Is it moving you to be a child of God of love?
Is it reaching you?
It's everywhere the call of love.

I just want to show you what I mean
I just want to love like you've never seen
Do you want to live like you used to dream?
Then I've got a song for you

Cuz I am gonna show you what I mean
I am gonna' love like you've never seen
You are gonna live like you used to dream
This is your new song

You've got a NEW SONG

The Face In My Dreams...

2008-03-09T17:40:00.000-07:00

This is the face in my dreams....
Every so often I believe God gives me the gift of going back in time, in my dreams, and playing with this little boy. He is my heart. My bubba, my Talon. This was my favorite time with him when he was little. The ages between 2 and 5. Don't get me wrong, every age had it's fun times for certain, but when I dream....I dream of this age right here in the picture above. I get to hold him, kiss him and interact with him and hear him laugh again. I am SO grateful that God gave me those experiences with Talon in the first place, and yet again in a dream and the funny thing is, I know it's a dream and I don't want to wake up. I'm not upset when I do wake up. I just have a very grateful heart. Talon has been the joy in my life that I can not verbally express. What an amazing thing we as parents get to experience. Sometimes it actually hurts. It's like someone said "having a child is like allowing your heart to walk around outside your body" it's so true. I watch Talon even now with the same wonder as when he was a baby...

How is it I can look at him now and see his baby face still shining through at 23 years of age?
I can still see the eye that had surgery when he was 3, waver a little when he's tired. I look at his man hands and still see his baby fingers...it's mind boggling to me. I still feel protective for his future, even though I told God that I trust him with Talon, since he made him and all...I still want to talk to God about Talon's future and remind him that He has to take extra special care of him.
Like God doesn't know that already... He reminds me often that Talon will always be surrounded by people that love him, because HE loves him...

I have to let go and let God be God in Talon's life, which I know He already is. Talon has an incredible faith in God, sometimes he puts me to shame.

I think a lot about the adoption we are pursuing and try to include Talon as much as possible. I worry about what he is thinking and feeling. I worry that he won't share his thoughts, feelings, fears or whatever is going through his mind with us, so we talk about it often and try and draw out any questions he may have.
TO ME this would be hard, if I were Talon. Someone else living in my house, sharing my Mom and Step Dad, sharing anything...Talon has always been number one and that won't change, but it may FEEL like it does to him... I don't know. I always over think things...

One time, in our old home, I was laying in bed at about 11:00 at night. Talon had been in bed for about an hour or so too. All of a sudden I was worried about if there was a fire, would Talon be able to open the windows on his own if I couldn't get to him. He was about 12 then. The windows were old and hard to open. I found myself panicking and had this horrifying vision of him being trapped in his room, so I went and did what any normal parent would do. I woke him up at, I think it was midnight at this point, and told him I wanted to make sure he could open the windows... he looked at me kind of like "seriously" and then laughed and smiled and said "ok" So we practiced opening the windows until I was satisfied he could do it and could get out if we had a fire that night....... you'll be happy to know, there was NO fire.

It's kind of like that with the adoption now. I am panicking a little that he'll be in a position that he can't control and by that time either can I really. So, I will pop into his room or while we are driving around or while he's watching TV, like I did tonight...YES, I did...and bless his heart. He
turned off the TV and smiled and we talked.
I love this face, this smile, this heart. Only GOD can make a mother's heart feel this way. Only GOD can truly understand because His love his even greater than ours. I can only IMAGINE what it had to be like for God to watch his ONE and ONLY son be persecuted and die on a cross for ME?! That is just insane to me and yet that's what He did for all of us. All of us...

Well, we'll probably have more conversations... and Talon being the patient guy he is will participate. PLEASE pray for all of us, but pray especially for Talon right now, that if he has ANY thoughts or feelings that he is not able to, or willing to share, that he will be able to do that and that his mother will not drive him insane, but that she will trust God.
Talon is such an amazing person and I think he will totally ROCK the title of "Big Brother".

Pride Cometh Before the Fall....

2008-03-06T18:45:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it's funny to see someone fall, isn't it?
you know what I mean, you can see it coming...the face of the
person that is "going down" their body language, trying to prevent it
from happening...and then there are those of us that are totally taken by surprise and don't realize we are going to fall, until we are actually falling.
It's funny for those of us observing, sometimes...
we see video after video on television of people falling and getting hurt, and it's just plain funny as we see and feel their pain. We manage to weave in a little compassion.

I kind of saw that happen tonight, but in a different way. A "Christian" oblivious to the fact that they are "going down" and looking foolish doing it. Have you seen it? Have you BEEN that person? I have! I have totally lost it in front of the same people that I have claimed to be a Christian to and totally embarrassed myself and made them think, quite possibly..."if this is what being a Christian looks like, I want no part of it" and I wonder if maybe even Jesus was shaking his head saying 'oh daughter, WHAT are you doing?".... I have had to repent more times of this than I care to admit and I'm terrified that it could happen again. I have been that self-righteous, full of "my way is God's way and you my friend are just WRONG" I'm embarrassed to even think about the things I have said and done over the years....BUT, I thank God for showing me what I looked like. It was REAL ugly, but eye opening.

I feel bad seeing it happen to someone else, I find myself embarrassed for them, because I'm thinking "at some point they are going to realize what they have done, I HOPE, and it will be devastating to them" Who wants that? . We can react in our humanness not realizing the damage we are doing, the people we are hurting, and the people we may have just turned off from Jesus, because of our crazy behavior. I realize that God is still God and we can't really "mess up his plans" but I think we can make it more difficult for Him, when we're working against him and not with him. It's like trying to feed a baby that doesn't want to eat, it's messy.

This is just a good reminder for me to guard my tongue and my mind and to pray for those that are struggling and don't even see it and I have to ask God to forgive me for laughing, and ask him to help this person see what they are doing, before it's too late. Because really, it's not funny, it's hurtful.

Heavenly Father, I pray that you would help us to use the gift of Self-control that you have given us through your Holy Spirit. Help us to be mindful that our lives belong to you and all that you have given us to manage: relationships, jobs, households, churches, people and so on. Help us to seek you at every turn and not rely on our own opinions of how things ought to be. Help us to call on you, rely on you and to trust you with the answers. Amen.

We need each other. God says to pray for one another and to encourage one another. I hate being the person with my foot in my mouth...So, if any of you see my foot heading for my mouth, I'd be forever grateful if you'd stop me.

The Orphanage...

2008-03-05T17:31:00.000-08:00

We were able to sneak away for several hours to hang out with the kids. We were really happy about that, because we were not "planning" on it, but hoping... We found Ruphael, baby Mackenson and Big Mackenson and about 6 other kiddo's to play with for about 5 hours. We had fun...God used this time to make it perfectly clear to us which child we were to pursue. We haven't been certain and since we can't do all three at once at this time we had to decide which one to start with, talk about a heart wrenching task... We were clueless... here's some pictures, you may be able to determine which one yourselves...I'll tell you at the end...no cheating!

Getting my hair done. With Big Mackenson on my left, Baby Mackenson on my right knee and Ruphael on my left knee.

Denny and Ruphael

Jackson, sweet kid. Helped us with the little ones.

Big Mackenson

Cutie Pa-tutie!

I have never met such a happy child. This little girl is such a little clown. Laughed and smiled the whole time we were there. Hilarious! The Little Rascals came to mind. She totally cracked us up.

Denny, Ruphael and Big Mackenson

This was kind of a sad picture...The kids ate separate from us and afterwards we thought they were all in bed. Denny and I sat and talked in the dark for awhile and shared what was on both of our hearts. We both felt that Ruphael is our daughter. While sitting there talking, two other little girls brought Ruphael out to us as if they were presenting her to us. She was sniffing as if she had been crying. She was all cleaned up in her pretty pink dress. We think she thought we had left.... that broke our hearts.

I had the wonderful joy of rocking her to sleep and putting her to bed when we had to leave. She didn't wake up and I was kind of thankful for that when I layed her in her bed. We know she is safe and loved where she is, but it was still hard to leave.

So, here we are waiting on the Lord. Believing that because of Him, ALL things are possible. Some of you know what we are up against and if this comes to pass, which we are believing for, it WILL be a God thing.
Great and Mighty is He.
Please pray as we come to the end of our home study and wait for the answer. This has taken "patience" to a whole new level.

With God, all things are possible....

2008-03-04T13:17:00.001-08:00

ok.....done resting. Coffee, hugged son when he came home from school and got our suitcase delivered just a little while ago....doing laundry now. All is well.
I've been thinking all morning about what to share and where to start and I was all over the map.
I could talk about the actual events, or share what God has been teaching us....decided on both.

The week itself started with no expectations from us, because it was just Denny and I going from Michigan this time. No team. No plans. A couple of nights before we left I was thinking about this, what felt like a dilemma, because it just felt like we should have some kind of plan. I was talking out loud to God and said "what are you going to do with us? It just doesn't make sense, how can you possibly use us at a Pastor's convention?" and then my mind shifted to the adoption...."and what about that God...how are you going to do all of this???" and in that same moment "with God all things are possible" ran through my mind. I nodded in agreement and let go of my thoughts... The next day at church a dear friend, Linda, handed me a gift and she said "I saw this and your name popped in my head". I opened the beautiful card and it said.."I know the adoption is taking a long time, but hang in there and know that with God, all things are possible... "I of course, started to cry. Then I opened the box and in the box is a silver necklace with a silver ring hanging on it that has the words "with God all things are possible" engraved on it.
.. wow. How is it that the creator of the universe can be so intimate with little me? He blows my mind...
So, the theme through our week of course was... with God all things are possible...

ok, so I told you about the kids...
We had about 44 the first day and then around 75 or more the second day and I think over a hundred on the 3rd day... I've never seen so many kids, for so many days in my life. All day long.
Here are some pictures:

Decorating Frisbee's and coloring pictures of the Fruit of the Spirit...

below: playing with the frisbee's

above left: this is one of the little girls, Jettree (not sure of spelling, but sounds like Jet-tree)
that stole my heart. The first time we tried to communicate she called me "blanc" which means
"white" I pointed to myself and said "no blanc, Kimberly" she covered her mouth as if embarrassed and said "Kimberly" I then asked her name. Later on another little girl was with Jettree and I and she addressed me as "blanc' and Jettree said "no blanc, Kimberly". She looked at me and smiled and nodded as if to say "see, I understand". I hugged her. Anytime I was outside her and Beatrice, the other beautiful little girl above right, where one on each side of me.

Below:
Kids and some adults, watching "The Jesus Film" for children

THE TEAM...

The team we joined up with came from all over...several pastors and one of them, shall I call him, is one of the directors of lifeline. A couple of women and us...24 of us.

"with God all things are possible" ....was my constant mental companion. Wondering how we were going to entertain (I use that term loosely) possibly 200 children and a couple hundred pastors was the task at hand.
It seemed that everything was by the seat of the pants and for a task oriented, list maker, such as myself, this was chaos. NO PLAN for the kids church? What? I thought I might throw up. After the team that we came with in August that was down to the paper clip organized, this was scaring me...
I had to keep reminding myself that it was going to be ok. I grabbed a pen and a note pad and we started organizing and between us we came up with a rough agenda. (at least I didn't feel like tossing my cookies anymore) and low and behold most of it went just fine.
We had unexpected times of kids giving their life to Jesus, singing, laughter, fun and some chaos, which just keeps life interesting anyways....
I have to say it worked out just fine and God proved once again that He is indeed, still God.

Pastor's training and services in the evening were to say the least, exhilarating. The Haitian people sure know how to worship! Hours of singing, group after group and preaching from both Haitian and the American pastors was wonderful.

One night, the mission team was just finished eating dinner before church started and Rita, Donna and myself stayed behind to clean up. The church service was literally right outside the window, so we could hear everything very LOUDLY! We were doing the dishes and the congregation of I'd say over 100 people were outside singing...it was so beautiful, but it was only when they did "How Great thou art" that I literally dropped the dish towel and ran outside to listen. It was the most beautiful rendition of the song that I have ever heard. By then most of us where down having church with everyone else and it was powerful! I have NEVER experienced church like that before. AWESOME!

Above: church only half full in this picture...

Above: American team singing

Above: hard to see, but a large group watching "The Jesus Film" in Creole.
Awesome film! It was hard to get night time pictures and I'm bummed because it
really was the best time.

The Baptism!

The other thing the Haitian people got down, is the baptism. There was a band that played what sounded like music you would hear at maurdi gras and then probably a team of 50 students in uniform marching and dancing to the music that lead a precession of over a hundred of us through the village to the damn where I believe about 5 people were baptized. People were singing and praying as the folks being baptized made their professions of faith... again, this was something else...

Above: the band
Below: the Students marching and dancing

Through the village....

Above: AMAZING view isn't it?

Above: this is where the damn is. The people were being baptized on the other side of the
line of people here.

I'll post more tonight.

We're Home....

2008-03-04T08:11:00.000-08:00

Flew in last night at 11:30, besides running around to get to our flights on time, a lady on the plane having some glucose issues, and not getting our luggage it was pretty smooth. When we got our cab we met our cab driver, whose name I immediately forgot... he is from Haiti though. Moved here to the states 8 years ago. Great guy. Has his 2 young sons and wife here. Travels to Haiti once a year to visit his mother who is getting up in years. He gave us tips on lower airfare for the future, which is great! He was very friendly and we all chatted all the way home, after a stop at the Burger-King drive through of course.

Good to be home and see the kitties. Talon we'll see later, can't wait to hug em...

We have so much to share and lots of pictures. This was probably one of the best trips for us. Which surprised us both. We knew that the Lord had made it 100% possible for us to go this time, we just didn't know why... We have some answers and some things to chew on and some eye opening things to toss around.

Gonna have some coffee and get back to post later today.

Thanks so much for all the prayers, you just have no idea how powerful they were.

Bercy Orphanage

2008-03-01T18:41:00.000-08:00

Am I cool? or am I cool?

Yes! we got to go to the orphanage. I have to keep it short, I keep losing the internet. But here is Ruphael, she is beautiful! God is doing a work. Please Pray.

A New Day...

2008-03-01T04:54:00.000-08:00

This morning woke up at 5:00 am to some really beautiful singing...I looked out our bedroom window and there were maybe 50 people sitting and worshiping, the pastors conference was already started. I thought "wow, what a huge commitment to start this conference at 5:00. That is a Sunrise service that most people only do MAYBE once a year on Easter Sunday. Today's conference will run until 9:00 tonight, that is a long hot day. It is pretty amazing though to watch the families and to kind of sit among them in their day. It is has been kind of up and down emotionally. The kids latch on to you as soon as you walk out the door and don't let go until the end of the day. We're like giant magnets that draw them from all directions. The girls are fascinated with my hair. I wish I knew what they were saying while they poke around in my hair...probably "do you think her color is real, or dyed" "probably dyed, she has a lot of gray hair"... Some of the kids will just stare at you, some will genuinely want to talk to you, which is the most fun for me. It's amazing how much you can communicate even when you can't "communicate" and if all else fails...one of them will start to sing "God is so Good"... they just want to communicate you and at that moment we all are speaking the same language.

Today is fun day for the kids, should be a blast.

Today we may get to see the kids at Bercy Orphanage, if we do, I'll get a picture out here.

On a more personal note, I just can't say enough about the Livesays...Tara is probably one of the most amazing people I have met. To say she has her hands full is an understatement by any normal person's definition, but that is not the vibe Tara gives off. Tara is one of those people that us women "hate" not REALLY hate, but like the Proverbs 31 woman, you know!? I wonder "how does she do this" and God shows me that, this is what he created Tara to do. I am blessed by who she is. Tara speaks her mind with humor and exaggerated truth and yet ALWAYS leads back to God. She is humble and honest. I love that. Tara is the perfect example of God using what some people may think "unlikely" although "likely" ...what I mean is, I think we have certain perceptions of what a "missionary" should look like...you know I mean? I didn't grow up in church, I was saved at the age of 23 and it's taken 20 years to arrive where I am in my journey, a short-term missionary. When God called us to this ministry I thought "not me God, I'm not a missionary. I don't look like a missionary, I don't act like a missionary, I don't speak like a pastor, I don't heal like a physician" But the funny thing is that I AM all of those things because of Jesus IN me and the I AM in HIM. Watching Tara and her family has proven that God know's what he's doing, He didn't choose the Livesay's because of what they could already do, but because of what their hearts are willing to do, ANYTHING! Look at King David, a shepard boy slaying a giant , a king, a leader and apparently a dancer....dancing around in his BVD's totally embarrassing his wife and probably a few church leaders...I believe God LOVED that about David. I believe God adores Tara and her questions, her faith, her wonderful humor that is usually pointed at herself, the way she manages her home and the relationship she has with each of their 7 children and her husband Troy, not to mention the undeniable love between she and her Savior.

Tara doesn't even know how she is leading other people to believe they CAN serve God in this way. What an amazing servant she is, God's vessel, drawing people into the REAL world of being a missionary. It's not all bible verses and thee's and thou's ...sometimes its an "oh my gosh I may pull all of my hair out" kind of day or week! and the great thing is...God knows it and knows just the right thing to say to us to say "I know, and I'm here, it's going to be ok" I think of th Psalms full of save me God from my enemies and coming back around to I trust you Lord...

I could truly go on and on as to how this family, Troy and Tara namely, have been used by God to draw us into the mission field and trust God.

I didn't mean to go on and on, but it was on my heart all night, I needed to share this blessing named Tara.

Holy Spirit Rain Down......

2008-02-29T14:10:00.000-08:00

at 3:00 yesterday afternoon the conference started. We had 44 kids yesterday for Kids church, which included some singing and some teaching. Then we all went and sat outside for church. It was a beautiful breezy evening. The singing was amazing, the preaching was Spirit filled and it went on into the night.
I saw Dave, the cow, actually the bull...., yes I named him, he was tied up by the prayer rock. When we went up yesterday morning for devotions there he was...I turned away because I just didn't want to see his big brown cow eyes look at me.... of course this has lead to much teasing from the team that is here with us... It's not that I don't understand the concept that Dave will provide a lot of food for a lot of people, I'm just not used to meeting my dinner before I eat him, am I wrong here??
The team put together a very funny picture of Dave with their photo shop that says "Kim save me" I did have to laugh.
anyway, woke up at 4:00 this morning to hear singing outside, it was pretty cool.
We started with probably 60-70 kids for bible church. Singing, teaching and a craft. We decorated Frisbee's. Teaching on the Fruit of the Spirit. The kids seemed to genuinely get it.
One really cool moment was a little boy was hitting the little girl next to him while we were teaching on Love. Pastor Rodney, the team pastor along with Robenson our interpreter, stopped and we talked to him about what he was doing. How patient the pastor was with him in drawing him out and asking him if he wanted Jesus to help to love this little girl. He nodded softly. Then Pastor asked him if he would like ask Jesus into his heart, and again he nodded softly.
This is just one of the many great things God has been doing here. Four kids yesterday received Jesus in our class as well. So, being a pastors conference, it has really been more about the kids. Totally unexpected, and totally God like.

About Dave, he gave his life today while we were singing with the kids. I didn't hear or see a thing and I am really very thankful for that.

I'll try and get some more pictures out tonight.
The conference is going strong right now and into tonight, please pray for the Holy Spirit to move and have his way here. Speaking of Holy Spirit, Kentwood Community Choir would be proud of me ( I hope). I got to lead our little make shift choir in "Holy Spirit Rain Down" at the conference last night, parts and all, and a little solo, ha,ha.. someone told me I sounded like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, that's not really the sound I was going for, but..."Cool" I thought of you all the whole time we were singing and know your singing it this weekend, we were no KCC, but definetley spirit filled. Love to all

Airports keep life Interesting ?? or was that Frustrating ??

2008-02-28T03:47:00.000-08:00

Kimberly and I were immediately challenged by the air transportation system.........
Getting into Chicago and beyond quickly became the game of the day. We were immediately set back by about 4 hours, because Chicago was "Shutdown??" I don't/didn't think Chicago ever shutdown. Well clearly it does, we were not allowed to leave the GR tarmack by command of Chicago. But life goes on.... and we get to O'hare knowing full well the rest of our day was probably going to be an interesting experience. ( we both voted for the word Frustrating) We had to constantly remind ourselves that Our God had all of this under control, even though we felt completely out of control.
After the two airlines finished arguing over who was going to take care of their customers, we were given a hotel voucher for a discount at a nearby hotel in Miami, which OF COURSE, the manager didn't want to honor.....par for the course. But, Denny (Kimberly now writing) being the smart guy I married, got it figured out and the guy let us stay for $80.00 (which included a continental breakfast)

This pretty much says it all.......

DAY 2...
was met with ALOT LESS complication, thank you Lord!
On the plane and in Port Au Prince exactly 24 hours later...

Unfourtunately we won't be able to post a lot of pictures as the service here is not responding very well....we'll try and pick one or two a day to keep it interesting though.

We wrapped up our evening by planning the events for a Bible School for the kids, along side the pastor's conference....this is going to be one happenin spot for sure.
The cow that was selected to be slaughtered for this event, to feed all these people, is somewhere on the compound...I'm hoping not to see it, I'm sure I will cry at the idea that this creature is going to die one of these mornings and the possibility of us hearing it is pretty high. Last year they didn't quiet get the cow dead the first time and it was horrible....

So start prayin! All the events start at 3:00 today and will end sometime Sunday....
we'll catch you up later tonight, or tomorrow morning...when ever the internet is ready for us.

Here we go...

2008-02-26T03:20:00.001-08:00

Hey, our blingy-blob count down is wrong...hmm..
oh well, I guess you can't expect a blob to be an absolute huh?
Well, here we are at the airport at 6:20...flight delayed to 8:15 am, not bad...
Couple cups of coffee and a nice warm ride in, thanks to Kevin! Not to mention the love and support from our KCC family, you guys ROCK! and all of our family and friends...(I feel like I'm accepting an award) We are excited about what God has in store. We've already met a lady that has a heart for missions and our hearts are stirred that God's people are responding to the call to the mission field.
Thank you for your prayers, and please keep them coming.
Talk soon!

Wintery Blast....

2008-01-30T18:45:00.000-08:00

What a wintery mess!
Talon and Denny had a snow day...

I have let way too much time pass. Not sure why. Maybe not knowing what to write. The adoption is still in home study gear...heavy sigh, seems to be taking too long. Mostly because we are dragging are feet. I think maybe we are trying to delay being disappointed. I know...we need to leave it in God's hands, but it is so hard. Seems like we have so much against us... our past, our finances. I don't mean to sound "poor us'...it's just we have real fear of being denied. We just have one more Doctor appointment and some paper work that my wonderful husband needs to finish and we can turn it in and have our case worker assigned to us and for some reason it is just sitting on the table.

We are returning to Haiti February 26th for the Pastor's training conference. We are really excited about this. It will be a very different trip than the first two and God has provided all of our finances already. Our airline tickets are paid for, our room and board is paid for...we are blown away at God's provision. We saw this same provision in our pursuit of funds for starting the adoption process and yet we still doubt? I shake my head as I look at this for the first time...an "ah-ha" moment. Lord you are so amazing, faithful and patient with us...thank you for loving us so much.

I have no pictures to post unless I get them from somewhere else. Our old computer died and of course it has ALL of our pictures on it... another thing to add to my honey's "honey-do list" he is so good at that stuff. I'm clueless beyond turning the computer on and typing.

Please pray for our adoption process. We will be able to see Mackenson and Ruphael while in Haiti for a little while. I'm very excited about that!! They don't know that we are trying to adopt them. Please pray for God's will in their lives.

Adoption Update...

2007-11-08T18:31:00.001-08:00

Ok, so, where did I leave off.....oh yeah....the home study. Well, we were referred to a place here in town and gave them a call. They are familiar with adoptions from Haiti and have worked with the person we are going through, so that is good. It costs $1,500.00.... Wow. $1,500.00 basically to find out if we can adopt or not. We decided it is totally worth it, but where were we going to get the money.

A lady at work gave me the idea to hold a rummage sale and ask people to donate their stuff for us to sell, and that is exactly what we did. People from the bank where I work and church, family and friends...we had so much stuff!! We were truly blown away by the generosity of everyone.

We had the sale on October 13th. The first lady that stopped in turned out to be the Aunt of the people we went to Haiti with. She didn't know who we were, she just stopped in! Too cool and she bought a lot of stuff.

We had more fun watching God do this. Some people got a lot of stuff for a little bit of money and others got a little bit of stuff for a lot of money. We decided to do it as a donation based sale. People loved it or hated it....but again, people were so generous.

We got excited when we hit $150.00 and then blown away when we hit $300.00 and overwhelmed when we hit $500.00....but $800.00 from a one day rummage sale??? totally freaked us out. We kept counting the money to make sure it was right...$800.00!

God blessed us so much and we can't thank him and the people he used enough. We sent out the first $500.00 dollars that following Monday morning and put the other $300.00 in savings for the next payment of $500.00. We have the paper work now and a lot of it is filled out. We have doctors appointments made for our physicals and that should be a good portion of it. We haven't heard from a case worker yet, hopefully soon.

We try so hard not to think too far ahead of this, but it is so hard! I can't help it. I look in the rear view mirror of my car and think someday I'm going to look back there and see little faces in car seats back there. I look at our spare bedroom and see the kids room. I picture Mackenson coming out of his bedroom rubbing his eyes saying to Denny "daddy, I can't sleep"... and I'll cry.
These kids are going to think there Mom is the biggest baby, cause all I'm going to do everytime I see them is cry!

My heart is already gone...
While we were having the rummage sale I looked outside, it was a beautiful day, and I thought, I wonder what the kids are doing right now. They have no idea what we are doing on their behalf. What we are doing right now so that we can try to give them better lives and bring them home with us. God flipped it on me and said the same thing about me... I have no idea what He is doing for me on my half to give me the life he planned for me...I of course started to cry. Because He is right. I complain about my job and stupid stuff not knowing that He has a plan, he's working on it. I have to be content. I have to trust Him with my life, after all, it does belong to him now.

So. We wait.
This whole thing just blows me away. ...

I love you Lord...

Let the wind blow...

2007-10-18T18:21:00.000-07:00

It seems like God has been showing me a lot of stuff about wind and storms lately. You know how you find a theme running through your days sometimes? Mine has been tornado's and storms and heavy winds...The God of the universe is stirring things up in me, in people around me, in my church... and I just have this wonderful vision of being in the "eye of the storm" and standing behind Him with His robes caught up in my hands to block my eyes. I am safe, but I have to hold on really tight and not let what I see scare me. I feel his confidence and firm stance, not even a sway from the high winds blowing our hair out of control and the sand and dirt and debris twirling around us. In God's presence I experience peace and I'm almost giddy with all the excitement theses storms are bringing and I'm captivated by His strength and power over these winds. I am expecting that He will do something amazing and I can't wait to see it. My God. My Saviour. The creator of the Universe is protecting me. He loves me and I know it. I don't always remember that I know it, but right now...I am embracing Him, His strength, His Wisdom, His Power, His Love, His protection and just how intimate He wants to be with me. It's the most amazing sense of His presence I have ever felt. Thank you Jesus...

We have been practicing this song for choir: (more wind theme, I LOVE it!)

LET THE CHURCH RISE (Go here to hear a remdition of this song)
By: Jonathan Stockstill and Israel Houghton

We are alive, filled with your glorious life.
Out of the dark, into your marvelous light.
We are waiting with expectations,
Spirit raise us up with you

CHORUS: Let the church rise from the ashes
Let the church fall to her knees
Let us be light in the darkness
Let the church rise

VERSE:
Moving with power,
bringing His name to the earth.
Singing His praise,
lifting up glorious songs.
We are moving
with His compassion,
Spirit fill our hearts with you

BRIDGE:
Let your wind blow
Let your wind blow
Let your wind blow
Revive us again Lord

The Adoption Journey...

2007-10-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

So, our journey into "Adoption" land started back in February after our first trip to Haiti. We visited Bercy Orphanage while we were there. I met Mackenson first, he came right up to me and took my hand and then into my arms. He and I walked around and we stumbled on the sadest little girl I have ever seen in my life...Ruphael, she was sick and very quiet. I picked her up too and we found a place to sit. Denny found us and took Ruphael and the two of them stuck to us the whole time we were there. They would NOT let go, not even for the stuffed animals and our team brought to hand out. They wanted to be touched, hugged, held and loved.....so that's what we did. They both fell asleep in our arms. I had the opportunity to pray over Mackenson while he was sleeping. We rocked in the rocking chair and I prayed. When we left they were still sleeping and we had to lay them on the benches and leave without saying goodbye. Just a kiss on the cheek...

Well, after being back for awhile we received this picture from one of our team mates...a picture of Denny with Ruphael and his shirt said it all........

and then this one of me and Mackenson

After both Denny and I figured out that we had both been thinking about these two children we agreed to first find out if they were even available for adoption. I emailed the orphanage, Cheryl and Rusty Merritt (whom we adore) and inquired about the kids. They couldn't tell us much at the time because they didn't have a lot of paper work, but they would see what they could find out. In the mean time they sent us a couple of pictures of the kids which was really cool, but Mackenson looked different, we concluded that it was just a wierd photo...

SO. We end up going back to Haiti 6 months later, August 2007 and still have not heard anything about the kids. We were discouraged about even considering adoption, but still very excited about seeing them again. When we got to the orphanage I asked where Ruphael and Mackenson were and they said "downstairs" so downstairs I went with Brenda Yonker right by my side, love her : ) and got to the "babies room" I asked the Haitian lady at the door for Ruphael. She said "Ruphael, come here"... I directed my eyes to where she was looking into the pile of babies and saw Ruphael stand up and walk over to me and into my arms.......she looked so good! Healthy, smiling, happy and not sick any more AND I was actually holding her again... I couldn't contain myself, I just cried .... and then I said "where's Mackenson" the lady said "Mackenson, come here" and the cutest little guy stood up and came over to me with the sweetest face God ever made.....but, it wasn't "The" Mackenson.......however, it is Ruphael's brother....the cheeks are a dead give away. So, I'm basically ok with this, but I really want to see "my" Mackenson. ...
I found Denny and he took Baby Mackenson and they bonded...precious, precious, precious..
I asked Denny if he had seen Mackenson and he hadn't either. We were both bummed and didn't know what to think. Well, we went on with our visit and about an hour later I look over at Denny and he has a different little boy on his lap and as soon as I saw him my heart went into my face (I know it's wierd, but that's how it felt) I walked over and squinted at him and said "Denny, this is Mackenson" Denny said "I thought so, but wasn't sure" So I asked Cheryl and she said yes that is Mackenson, "Big" Mackenson.....I said "this is the one I was referring to from the beginning" and when I said that Mackenson shook his head yes. We asked him if he remembered us and he said he did...Oh I just hugged him!!!

So. Our time is over we have to leave. My team is in the truck waiting for me, it's pouring rain, getting dark and we have to go. I could only find Ruphael to say goodbye. She was standing at the window in her little pink outfit. I hugged her and kissed her cheek and told her I Loved her. I couldn't find Mackenson, either one of them until I got in the truck and looked out and saw"Big"Mackenson, standing in the rain with everyone waving good bye.

It took everything in me not to cry all the way back to the compound. It was horrible. I knew they were loved and fed and cared for, but it's just not the same as the love of a Mom and a Dad.

So, we still had the issue at hand when we returned home, "are they even available for adoption" and NOW theres THREE of them..........

The day after we got home from Haiti, I'm at work at my computer and I receive an email from Cheryl Merritt, from the orphanage. "All of the kids are available, the lady that we have been waiting for to come help us go through the paper work showed up the day after you were here and said it shouldn't be a problem for any of them really" Truly, I think I stopped breathing. I folded my arms across my chest and stopped breathing. " What on earth do we do with this?" I never asked Cheryl to follow up on this while we were there, we thought it was pretty much impossible...now "possible"

Shew...so, here we are. Lots and lots and lots of prayer, discussion, prayer....and we feel that the first thing we can throw out to the Lord is a first step and see what he does with that... so we are going to do the homestudy. We are having a rummage sale to raise the funds ($1,500.00) God has already blessed us so much with donations of items to do the sale that our home is overflowing... this in itself is so amazing. People are so generous, loving compassionate and want so much to help. We are blown away.

We had a "family meeting" last night and finally broke the news to Talon. He has been hearing bits and pieces, but we wanted to make sure "we" were ready to seriously move forward with this and not confuse him. Talon is amazing. He responded well. He said "little kids love me" and that's true, they do. Talon is gentle and patient and kind. I asked Talon what he thought about another child calling me Mom, he said "that's ok, I call you Mom all the time" typical Talon answer, I love my bubba....I said well, if I was pregnant what would you hope I would have, a boy or a girl?" and he said "a girl" with out any hesitation and I said "why" he said "because she would steal my hat and I would chase her around saying "give me back my hat"...ha,ha,ha,ha...oh my goodness this boy has stolen my heart. What a great guy. We told him how involved he will be. A big brother is very important, and we feel that he would be the best big brother any kid could have. He smiled. So....we are a family that may get bigger, or we may not, either way we have each other and we are in it together!

Pray for us please! Pray for these kids. We have no idea who or how many. Probably not all three, but if it's God's will then it will be all three. We are starting with the homestudy and letting God lead us from there. We'll keep you posted...

Here are pictures of the kids and us from our last visit in August:

This is "Baby" Mackenson

This is Ruphael (she's beautiful)

This is "Big" Mackenson... and am I crazy or do we look alike?
crazy smiles....makes me giggle every time I look at it....

And I call myself a blogger.....

2007-10-04T16:48:00.000-07:00

....it's been over a month since I've posted. It's amazing to me how time flys by. Sometimes that's a good thing and other times I wonder if I wish my days away too quickly. I would still like to post some photos that haven't made it out here yet...I think last I left off I wanted to show you pictures of one of the places that holds the feeding program through Lifeline. This may be the only meal the children get in a day. They are beautiful children and most of them like to have their picture taken.

Barbencourt
These photo's are from one of the schools that Children's International just started the Sponsorship program with. We had the best time taking their pictures, measuring and weighing these beautiful, beautiful kids. This was probably one of the most fun days I had. Getting the kids to smile was so much fun. They loved seeing their picture after I took it. I told one girl she was "Belle" which means pretty / beautiful...she hid her face and giggled and all of her friends smiled and giggled too.....it was beautiful.

Snap Shots of Haiti...

2007-08-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some snap-shots of Haiti in Port au Prince and in the village.... This is their country and in it's poverty there is beauty and a lot of garbage....it is what it is...

People selling along the road...

Look close, he is actually being towed...

In Haiti, who ever is biggest and fastest (which seems like the bigger they are, the faster they go, whether or not there is a man on top is neither here nor there) gets the road and you better move...

This is the form of a taxi, but here it is called a "Tap-tap"
when you need to get off you "tap" on the roof....there are all kinds of tap-taps usually very colorful and loaded with a LOT of people.

Tap-tap...

In the village... lots of motorcycles...

You will see many people bathing or just playing in the water to cool off. These streams run through the whole village. People bath, play and etc....(which is why you must NOT drink the water here!)

Notice the broken bottles on top of the wall, that is to keep people from climbing over, some people use sea shells which looks nicer and is just as effective...

Yep, the Loto.......just like home......NOT!

This young man caught a ride on the back of our truck. He refused to smile for me...

Check out the pocket knife this guy is carrying....is that legal?

Hope you enjoyed the few photo's..... Haiti is an amazing place with much to see, hear and smell!!

Haiti, Why Haiti?

2007-08-26T19:10:00.000-07:00

I've been planning on updating our blog with more pictures of our recent trip there but also dragging my feet. This last trip kind of was different than we had expected, we felt separated from the team that we went with, unlike the first trip where we felt more connected. Probably because it was our first time there. I don't know. I do know that God allowed this past trip to be different for a reason. I believe it was to help me realize I can't seek the approval of other people in this Journey that is led by HIM, not the team we went with. I had some serious doubts about myself this trip and wondered why in the world God allowed me to go. We went with some great people, people that made me laugh and cry (good cry), but I didn't connect, except with one young lady that stole our hearts, Samantha.........God has got a plan for this girl... she was a joy to meet. She is one of those people you just can't wait to watch take off with the Lord. I know this is all really personal stuff, but I need to get it out. I've not been a part of anything like this in my life and I am excited, happy, a little fearful and just wondering "what is God thinking?"

Samantha is the gal on the left.

The last 6 months we have met so many people connected with Haiti that know the same people we do. It's this link to a link to a link thing..... truly a God thing, truly!
So, what does God want us to do? Adopt? ok... go to Haiti and help at the Orphange? ok....
Denny has a huge interest in getting water to Haiti and it just so happens the lady that is helping us with our search to adopt is also connected with finding homes for Orphans at risk sometimes to her own personal being and also is connected with getting water to much needed areas.......
I sat and cried tonight because I just don't know what to do first. I feel a bit overwhelmed with Haiti. Why Haiti? Only God knows. I love Haiti. It's the weirdest thing in the world to me. It feels like home. Heavy sigh.

Thanks for letting me vent a little, I think I'm just a little emotional today. I do trust that God has a plan and just last night he had me read Psalm 27, which at the end says...v. 14...Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Now I no why. He knew I would be struggling tonight. God is faithful. Thank you Father for loving me even when I'm frustrated with what I don't understand yet....

I PROMISE more pictures tomorrow night!

More Haiti....

2007-08-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some photo's from the church in Lully. It was a 3 hour service that included... a wedding, 2 baby dedications, communion, Praise and Worship, and before we got there, baptism. Apparently on the first Sunday of the Month it is a busy, busy Sunday....Then we had a marvelous meal and some "dirty dancing"...........don't ask....I'm just kidding, but there was dancing and it was so much fun...

We were greeted by these beautiful faces...

Lots of Groups of singers...they were all very good and usually included hand movements.

Nate was called upon to do the baby dedication and did a great job..

Hey, isn't that the drummer from Sojourn?

Troy helping out with Communion...which by the way, is NOT just grape juice!

Couple of cuties...

Then we went outside for lunch....it was very hot!

This is the view across from the church........

Good Food!

The kids love having their pictures taken and then looking at them...

Too Cute!

Well, that's it for now. I realize I don't have any pictures of the wedding, hmm? I do have video of dancing and singing, but I have to figure out how to get it on here. The singing is wonderful!
I may have to get an ok from Amy, our team dancer...ha,ha....Church was so much fun!
Tomorrow night I will post pictures from the surrounding village and Port Au Prince...
Have a great night. Snuggle up to the Lord and sleep well...May God Bless you and Guide you on your own Journey.

Where to begin....

2007-08-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting to write in our blog until I knew exactly what to write. It's been a week as of today and still I have a slurry of thoughts and pictures riding around in my head. Denny is still dealing with Haiti Happiness, although I'm not sure where the Happiness part is. Maybe it's just in the reminder every time you head for the bathroom, of Haiti....that sounds bad doesn't it. Well at any rate we are back, just a few pounds lighter, which I for one do not have a problem with.

I took a nap this afternoon after church. I kept waking up with the nagging feeling that I had to do this blog. I just don't know where to start. Do I start from Day 1 or give an over all impression? Either way I'm drawing a blank. I'm hoping that in my simple act of obedience God will give me the words and pictures to accurately describe our experience this trip.

I have to say this trip was definitely different than the first one in February. Maybe because we stayed in one of the other homes on the Missions grounds. We actually stayed with the Livesay family and that was a great experience in itself . I was actually "in" the room where it all happens, the computer room, where the amazing daily events of this family is documented for us to read in the comfort of our air conditioned homes. The computer room has a feeling of it's own for sure.....I thought about sitting in the chair to see if any of Tara's writing abilities would rub off on me, but I didn't...I didn't even snap a photo, which if I was a "true stalker" I would have done....but better judgment took over.

I was thinking about the things that the Livesay family encounter in a day, and after being around them for 9 days I actually got to see a tiny portion of it. I thought "only people that are followers of Christ can live a life like this and then sit down faithfully night after night and share it as it is, an adventure with God." I found myself a little envious of this kind of relationship with God. I am not implying that this is always an enjoyable life, or even trying to glamorize it, because as we have seen, there are heartbreaking events that these missionaries witness, but I can't help but think how much more interesting life is when you face it head on with Jesus at your side. I have been reminded though that I don't have to live in Haiti to have a life full of unexpected events that throw you into an immediate discussion with the creator of the universe, just living out the life that Jesus died for, for me is enough to shake things up.

As for our time there it's a bit of a blur still. Seems we spent months preparing for such a small moment in time. I wondered why it had to end. I can honestly say that when we are there it feels like home. I missed Talon a lot, but outside of that it was home while we were there.
There were some times when I doubted that this was God's will for me... to be there among such amazing people, "what can I possibly offer" moments. Times when my humanness of not being good enough or not fitting in took over the purpose God had for me in His plan. I still don't know what that is, but as I said previously, I believe it is where God has brought us and He has the map. So, we wait for Him.

Vacation Bible School!

We had the opportunity to be a part of Vacation Bible School for about 140 kids 4 days out of the week. The first two days Monday and Tuesday, where Jesus birth and then Jesus resurrection. Which was instilled in the kids through "The Jesus Film", Crafts, games and drama (my husband makes a pretty good looking Joseph by the way). Then we did it over again on Thursday and Friday. On both occasions we had all 140 kids back together to be given the opportunity to ask Jesus into their own lives.
Kids Arriving for VBS

So with bowed heads on Tuesday and Friday we saw at minimum a total of 100 kids raise their hands to receive Christ as their Savior. That was an awesome thing to witness. Then the last evening we had a carnival in which parents were invited to join the kids for fun and games for a couple of hours. One of my favorite things was Amy, one of our team members, did the salvation bracelet, in which each color bead on the bracelet that they made helps tell the story of Jesus to a person that doesn't know Jesus and leads that person to the opportunity to ask Jesus into their heart as their own personal Savior. Amy actually did this with the parents, I thought
that was awesome. The Carnival ended with dinner and then the full viewing of The Jesus Film for the adults, which by the way they stayed around for and watched. It was a sight to see all of these people gathered around the TV set watching this film.

T-Shirt Decorating Craft

Outside the Gate For Carnival!

Another day we went to Bercy Orphanage in Caberet, Haiti, which is where the children we fell in love with are. We had a great time loving on the children there. There are 36-37 kids there ages from infant to teen. Great kids.

Celebrating August Birthdays....

Melissa found a friend... too cute!

Amy and baby...

Denny and "Baby Mackenson"

Kimberly and Ruphael (looking much better than she did in February (Denny with her in Feb.)
(Baby Mackenson's big sister....)

Mackenson August 2007 and Mackenson in February 2007
Look who we found...Big Mackenson" from our last visit! Look at that smile!

My most favorite picture of Marg....

Theresa has a new friend as well....

There is so much more to tell you, but it's getting late.........I will have more to show you tomorrow night..........God Bless you this evening.

Well, Here We Are....

2007-08-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

Back in Haiti and falling in love over and over and over again with the beautiful children. This is a short post. There will be a full report when we return. Lots of pictures and some adventure and more children! Thank you Sojourn family for your prayers, you'll never know what an encouragement it was to see your posts today. God bless you!

At The Foot Of The Cross....

2007-07-31T19:22:00.001-07:00

I woke up all night long last night with this song playing over and over in my head, I think it's worth sharing.

At the foot of the cross
Where grace and suffering meet
You have shown me Your love
Through the judgment You received

And You’ve won my heart
Yes You’ve won my heart
Now I can

Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross

At the foot of the cross
Where I am made complete
You have given me life
Through the death You bore for me

I’m laying every burden down
I’m laying every burden down

words and music by Kathryn Scott
© 2003 Vertical Worship Songs/ASCAP

The Countdown Begins!

2007-07-30T17:07:00.000-07:00

This week-end we were commissioned by Lighthouse Community Church to return to Haiti. The power of being prayed over before being sent out is just the most amazing experience. From the beginning I have seen God's hand in this. I keep shaking my head because I just can't seem to wrap my mind around the fact that God is using "me". Each step I take is like walking through an unfamiliar house in the dark, yet totally sencing that I am going in the right direction. I have no idea from day-to-day why God has placed this in our hearts. Why Haiti? Why not Haiti? I don't know. I was reminded Sunday that God's thoughts are not my thoughts. I can't possibly begin to understand the ways of the Creator of the universe. I can barely follow a recipe correctly, let alone follow a map I can't see. Yet God in His infinite wisdom truly has a plan and it includes me. It includes you. It includes us all. For we are all made in God's image. We all have a journey to experience that ultimately leads to this marvelous revelation that God really IS.

So. Five days until we leave. I will miss Talon. I hope next time he will come with us. Prayin : )
I'm beside myself with joy to go back and at the same time sad that it is such a short time there. We have met some amazing people and feel so blessed to be a part of this ministry. Again, walking in the dark....but truly believing that when the lights come on I won't be disappointed.
God is Good..... ALL THE TIME!

Ok, we are all in the same room, do we really need to email?

2007-07-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

It's not often that you have opportunities to meet "great" people, but last night we had the opportunity and pleasure to meet the founder of Children's Lifeline International, Arnold Lemke. He spoke at Lighthouse Community Church briefly and then we were invited to to Nate and Brenda's to talk more with Arnold and get to know him a little. I have never met anyone with so many "God" stories to tell. What a neat guy. We could have listened to him talk all night.

Time to Update!

2007-07-15T17:58:00.000-07:00

Kentwood Community Church is donating 100 t-shirts for kids in Haiti that live in the orphanges. They decorated them Saturday Night and today. Denny and I had the opportunity to get a peak at the amazing art work..... Pretty cool stuff! The kids were great and you could just see the wheels spinning in their minds as to how to decorate these shirts. They were fun to watch.
It will be kind of neat to bring pictures back for them of the kids "recieving" the shirts... I think that will give them a better understanding of what they did and who they did it for.

Last night we started packing for our trip over at Nate and Brenda's. It was a lot of fun getting to know the rest of the team a little more before we start bunking together in just a few weeks.

I truly believe God has brought together a pretty unique group. Very different from the last team, although..... the team that we went in February are really special to us.... Here is a cool picture of all of us up at the cross on Life Lines Missions grounds, and believe it or not, we did not pose...we were simply waiting for the sun to come up..........

Cool Huh..........

I am really looking forward to this trip. Looking forward to seeing Tara and Troy and all the chillens.... Also, excited about VBS and what that will "really" look like once we are there.
I am looking forward to seeing faces that I saw before and getting to know a few people a little better. It may be just a bit harder to come home this time....

Happy Father' Day

2007-06-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day Handsome Husband....

Happy Fathers Day to my husband who is such important person in our family. Denny made us a complete family 10 years ago. He came into a family of a woman that had been on her own for the last 12 years raising her son and pretty much doing things her "own way". Denny has come in and not only fit in with the two of us, but he has changed us. He's made us think differently and do things differently and that has caused us to grow. I don't think he realizes how much he has added to our family. I love how he interacts with Talon. They have a pretty cool relationship. Denny takes the time to spend time with Talon, doing things, teaching and helping Talon to make better decisions, by treating him with respect, by being patient, talking to him and finding out what works for him. Denny has totally won my heart with this. He brings strength, confidence and his desire to be all that God intended to our home, and I really do give thanks to My God every day for Him. He truly is an answer to prayer, a gift. We love you baby!! (Denny)

At church this morning we had an "All Men" choir (love it!!) and Denny of course was on drums. He had earlier played softball while coaching "Special Olympics" on Monday and of course playing with everything he has, took a dive to get someone out at 2nd base and messed up his shoulder. Well, after playing drums for the first service he was in just about more pain than he could stand and he and Steven (percussion dude) went out back and Steven prayed over Denny. I am not kidding, with in minutes Ray, who is by trade, a Massage Therapist somehow had found Denny, through 100 men, and figured out what was going on with Denny's shoulder. Gave him a, at least, 20 minute massage and Denny was able to play for the 2nd service. Lord, you always show up! Thank you!! Denny is still in some pain, but he really didn't know how he was going to play. Awesome!

Ray working on Denny

So after church we tried (my sister Kristin, her husband Jerome and Denny and I) to see our dad, but he wasn't home. So the four of us had lunch at Hastings Ponderosa, that was nice. Then headed home for a nap. What a great way to end the perfect day....

Here is how our morning started:

I have to say this is one of my most favorite days to celebrate at church (Kentwood Communinity Church ). We have an amazing Worship Arts Ministry team, that God has put together, and on Father's Day the team is made up of all men of all ages (except for , who did a great job by the way) We had at least 100 men up there. What an inspiring sight! They did such a great job.
Ya know, this is what our churches need. We need our men leading. We need to see them with their hands lifted high leading us to the Throne of God in worship and these men did just that. Thank you all so much and you must know how much we want to see more of this. We need you, we need your strength, the strength of your voices and the strength of your hearts. We love you and we want you to know "You have got it goin on"!!!

A Little Friday Fun at Lunch...

2007-06-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

First though, let me introduce you to.....

We fell in love with

Mackenson and

Miss Ruphael they are brother and sister and live at one of the orphanages we visited in February. I was thinking about them today and wondered if I had ever introduced them. We have inquired about their availability for adoption, but haven't heard anything yet....

Otherwise.....

I've been tagged by Miss Brenda, so here goes:

4 Favorite jobs:

1. Mom and wife

2. Being a Stephen Minister

3. Taking pictures of Denny and Talon

4. Singing in the choir at KCC

4 Favorite local places:

1. L. Marie & Company (East Grand Rapids)

2. Horrocks

3. Church

4. Home Depot

4 Favorite foods:

1. A good steak - cooked by my husband :)

2. Potato Salad - my own :)

3. Nate's Pan Stuff!!

4. 3 Musketeers

4 Favorite International spots:

1. Haiti

2. Russia - because of Nikolas and Katie-

3. China - Because of Haiti, I think we mean Heather : )

4. Haiti again- Because of Mackenson and Ruphael

Just a Wednesday....

2007-06-06T17:32:00.001-07:00

Got up at 6:00 AM, went back to sleep until 6:15, 6:30...shower, go to work, sit at my desk for 8 hours wondering what Troy and Tara Livesay are doing.......I bet it is WAY more exciting than sitting at this desk listening to the clock tick. They are probably calling Britt down to sew up an eyelid or some body part that is now missing because of a new masheti being used to build a house in Haiti.... or Paige is trying to figure out if the new village baby is a boy or girl because no one really bothered to look....or wiping goat poop and ashes off of a victim of a motorcyle accident that caused a head wound and they were trying to heal it.....I know, I know, I'm in Grand Rapids, Michigan not Haiti.... and I should be thankful I have a job that doesn't require working in 115 degrees....and I get paid a regular paycheck and I have benefits and there are plenty of people that would love to have my job and yet I would trade it all right now, to get out of my suit and make up and into shorts and a t-shirt and get dirty. I just hate the 8-5 thing.... I really do. Yes I said "hate". I have to remind myself that God has a plan and I have NO idea what it is, but...I need to trust Him to know what's best for me and HIS Kingdom. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" The idea that He has allowed me to have a glimpse of the desire of my heart is sometimes more than I can bare. I'm so thankful for what God has shown me.... His heart and I can't wait to experience even more. Lord please calm my spirit and help me to be patient as I wait on you. Thank you for the job that is helping us to become free from the bondage of debt. Thank you for showming me your heart and how much you love the people of Haiti...

Here are a few of my favorite things.....Besides Denny and Talon of course....
Pretty!

Sylvester....my snuggle buddy...

Sassy aka Bippy aka Crazy aka Beep-Beep

Bad Bippy, Bad!

Is it time for my 3:00 feeding....

If you have a minute...check out the Livesays Website, but be warned it's addicting!!

We Need Your Help......

2007-06-05T19:15:00.001-07:00

Yes, we will go back....

James 1:27.Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Dear Family and Friends;

We thought we would send you a reminder about our dead line for funds needed for our up coming missions trip to Haiti. We don’t get a report on where our support comes from until we get back, so if you have already sent in support…Thank You!! Our deadline is June 15^th, but we are asking for funds by the 10^th so we have enough time to get the funds where they need to be in a timely manner. We know how fast time goes by and before you know it, we’ve missed an opportunity. Life takes a lot of our time and energy and we tend to forget the little things we set aside that we really would like to contribute to. So, we thought we’d check in and tug at your heart a little.

I wanted to share an insight that a very wise woman shared with me, my Mom…

She said she just recently came to the understanding that when she contributes to missions, it goes much further to grow her treasure in heaven than she ever knew, because when she gives support that allows us as missionaries to further God’s kingdom abroad, she is in essence touching each one of the people herself!

(I love that) So not only does she bless us, but she also blesses each one of the children that we get to tell the story of Jesus to, 5 times a day, she gets to bless the parents that will come and hear the gospel, she gets to touch the people in the village that we pray over or tend to…and on and on…and that just blessed my Mom. I appreciated her insight to this because it’s true.

We are an extension of you…. isn’t that awesome? So, please prayerfully consider if God is calling you to join with us in ministering to the people in Haiti, the children…. Haiti’s future…we can’t do it with out you, we need you!

In His Service,

Dennis and Kimberly Jeltema

Please send this in with your funds to receive tax credit

Make Checks payable to: Kentwood Community Church

Mail to:

Dennis & Kimberly Jeltema

6259 Akron Ave.

Kentwood, MI 49548

Special Olympics Spring Games..

2007-05-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

May 5, 2007 - Special Olympics Spring Games @ Calvin College Campus

We never know what the weather will be like year to year....it's hard to tell what the month of May will be like in Michigan.
It was chilly, but the sun was out and there is so much going on that you really don't mind the cold.....

Now, for the REST of the story...thank you Brenda!! Love you girl....heavy sigh. I am so sorry, how I published this like I did......I just don't know...

Anyway, it was a very cold day, but we have experienced worse! So, no complaints.
Here are some more picutures from the event....(I figured out the pictures Brenda: )

The Agony of defeat, sometimes The Silver is just NOT acceptable for some....
this athlete was so upset and I think that's ok.....Just makes you try harder next time...

That's our boy! Run Talon, Run....

Victory of The Gold!! Well Done Talon, Well Done!

This is Toes.....He's Fat....

Track and Field...........

Silver Medal.......not so bad!!

Soft Ball Throw.....

What? Another Gold Medal?? Go Talon, Go Talon....

Yeah, that's right....I got the Gold......AGAIN!...

What to do on a Snowy April (?) Night.....

2007-04-11T18:13:00.000-07:00

Build a Corvette!!
Denny and Talon share the love of cars tonight and decide to build a corvette in the living room...good night for it since its snowing and raining outside...in APRIL!Oh well, gotta love living in Michigan.

God Knew....

2007-04-05T17:10:00.000-07:00

Ya know, a week ago if someone would have told me that we were going back to Haiti in August I would have said "yeah, right!" I NEVER would have thought. God is just blowing me away lately.

This past Sunday Denny and I shared what the Lord has been doing in our lives since our return from Haiti in February and while we were preparing to do the presentation the days prior, well my heart just swelled up so much to go back there. First it was "lets see if Denny can go with the Team so we can lead a team in February" and before we knew it, in less than 24 hours....I am going too?! Totally God!

I'm in awe of this life God is given me to live for Him. I am so humbled that God is giving ME the desires of my heart, or are they His desires?

I am finally understanding that "my life makes sence to God" even when I shake my head and wonder "why", God Knows! and for some reason lately, that's enough for me to not stay in "why land" too long. Romans 8:28... says And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose...Wow, ALL things.

Every day has become an adventure for me and Denny. Talon, my son, just shakes his head... I am trying desperately to get him to go with us, but he is afraid of flying... can't fault him for that. Fear is Fear. So we pray for Talon and let God remove the fear as He see's fit. So, the count down begins!

When are we going back to Haiti????

2007-04-05T17:09:00.000-07:00

Get your own countdown at

Monday Blues....

2007-03-19T17:53:00.000-07:00

Raining and snowing this morning? Whats up with that? Well it didn't last long and the sun came out, so can't keep complaining.

We had a great week-end. Talon brought home the Gold with 2 regional basketball wins!! Awesome games, awesome!

Still haven't heard anything from anyone in Haiti about Ruthfael or Mackenson. It has been over a month and I'm already discouraged. I have no idea what to do. We are waiting to hear back from a friend that is trying to find out if these two beautiful children are available for adoption. It's hard to wait like this. I constantly check email hoping for something... I guess no news means possible good news, so we keep praying. Spring is coming and I figure if this all works out, that maybe by Christmas we may have children in our home once again...my heart leaps.

Back To Reality...

2007-02-19T18:48:00.000-08:00

Talon had a double header Basketball game against the Muskegon Sharks, great game! They won them both. I am always totally blown away by his abilities. Talon has been playing for Special Olympics for 14 years now and he just keeps getting better. I love his attitude it is perfectly balanced with aggressiveness and good sportsman ship.

I enjoyed my day off today. Got all of the laundry done, pictures from Haiti loaded and fixed up, Hung our painting from the Ocean and paid some bills. Denny's leg is still really bad, I told him I think he should have it checked, but I guess he feels it's not THAT bad...heavy sigh...Bless his heart he came to Talons game even though he was in quite a bit of pain.

It's amazing how hard it is to just get into my daily routine, but somehow it is different now. Everything I do seems to have more meaning behind it... Denny went to work and called me at lunch time and he seems to experience the same thing. Is God preparing us for change? I don't know. I guess we just keep waiting on the Lord and praying. What an amazing God I serve...

2007-02-18T20:19:00.000-08:00

This is just outside the compound. Beautiful.

Where Do We Go From Here..........

2007-02-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

On February 7th Denny and I embarked on a trip that, as far as we know, has been in the works for about a year. A little over a year ago Jason and Rhonda Hoppa introduced us to Children's International Lifeline as they went through an adoption process for their daughter, Neika. Little did we know how much Neika's life would change our lives here in Michigan.

I saw a picture of this compound in Haiti run by Children's International Lifeline and my heart was immediately affected. I didn't know why........and 1 1/2 years later as I sat here with my camara in the presence of this amazing place, I still don't know.... God has stumped me before with my husband Dennis coming into my life, so I shouldn't be surprised at this lack of understanding on my part, and yet I am.

Denny and I are in awe of the contrast of God's beauty and the poverty. Our eyes are not deep or wide enough to take it all in. I can't help but wonder what God see's. The people here are beautiful, young and old.

Denny and I layed awake each night listening to the roosters, goats, dogs and people and tried to figure out how to "fix" everything..... It is so overwhelming and we know that "we" can't fix in 8 days what has taken generations to create, this is totally a "God" thing and we are blessed to be even the smallest part of what ever he gives us to do.