Want one?

We've had so much fun working on Chosen.

It's been amazing to see how many people are excited about this ministry.

It's amazing to me how many people have felt that gentle tug on their heart to do something for children without homes...but just not known what they were supposed to do.

In preparation for Orphan Sunday (which is today!) the group had shirts made.

Aren't they cute?

They are our first fundraiser! All of the money raised will be used to touch the lives of these children.

I had to show them off! For anyone that wants one, we'd love to share! They are only $15. And even better. The family that is printing them for Chosen, is in our ministry and they are foster and adoptive parents! How great is that? We get to support them too!

There is a design for the girls/women and one for the boys/men. They come in all sizes, 12m to 4XL, but they run large!

On the back, you'll see our web address. It's not up and running yet, but we had to have it on the shirt for when it is!

If you can go to www.orphansunday.org at 4 o'clock this afternoon to be a part of the web cast in Nashville with Stephen Curtis Chapman!

A real story for National Adoption Month

If you know Blake and I, you know we haven't done foster care.

So when I posted yesterday it was out of a wrestling that God has been doing with me lately.

Ashley commented yesterday and I jumped to her blog to catch up with their journey and had to share this tidbit from her post...it's so moving!

"Tom and I knew God was calling us to be foster parents awhile ago, but then we started letting our human ways take over. Saying things like, "oh maybe it would be 'easier' if we adopted through an agency from infants, or these kids might have special needs, or have 'issues'." Then one day it hit me and I felt so bad, I went running back to God and asked for His forgiveness. First of all, knowingly diverting from what we know God wants us to do, because it might be "easier" is selfish and wrong! Also who am I to say its "easier" it may appear so from the outside, but i've never experienced that either, so what do I know. And lastly, I felt so ashamed that for a split second I thought twice because foster kids have special needs, HELLO, we all have special needs of some sort, and besides God gave His ONLY son, for me, who is flawed and has needs and issues, who am I to judge a CHILD on things he had no part in?! "

Thank you Ashley for sharing your human thoughts with the rest of us that fear the exact same thing.

God has also laid a song on my heart that brings me to tears everytime I hear it. It's Michael W. Smith's song, "Mighty to Save".

Read the words and as you do think of how this applies to God's heart for children without families.

"Everyone needs compassion
A love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations

Chorus:
Savior, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave

So take me as you find me
All of my fears and failures
And fill my life again
I give my life to follow"

If as Christians, we don't open our homes and hearts, who do we expect to do so?

Toes

I have been wanting to write something about this being National Adoption Awareness month.

I have been wracking my brain for something creative and profound.

That I haven't said already.

As if I have said anything that is creative or profound before.

But I just read a statistic that makes me not care to be cautious anymore.

I am always so worried about stepping on toes or offending someone.

I certainly don't want to sound high and mighty...

BUT I AM SO TIRED OF HEARING EXCUSES FROM CHRISTIANS!

Why in the world are more Christian families not praying about this?

Why are we still standing by and letting children age out of the system?

Why are we letting fear lead us in this area of our lives?

Tonight I learned that Oklahoma is 3rd in the nation for children being abused while IN FOSTER HOMES!!!!

Does this make your stomach hurt like it does mine?

Please pray with me this month and ask God how He wants to use your family to change the life of a child?

November is here!

This month is Adoption Awareness Month and I love it!

As if I don't talk enough about adoption...I am going kick it up a notch.

Just kidding. I know you all just closed my blog page!

So, for the 3 of you that stuck around, here are some cute pictures of my munchkins from the last couple of days!

We went to Tulsa to see my family for the weekend. It was such a treat to have all 10 grandkids together!

Saturday morning we went to Max's soccer game and I caught these two. Makes my heart skip a beat! Look at that smile.

Notice we are not trick or treating in our neighborhood! The 6 oldest grandkids!

Daddy taking sister to the houses trick or treating! She loved watching the kids but was perfectly content hanging back with the adults!

And this guy...could there BE a better looking Buzz Lightyear? I think not! Cooper, I love you! For real, I may have to put her in this every once in a while because she's makes the cutest ladybug EVER!This was today, swimming in November! We had a beautiful day in the upper 70's, it was warm enough for the boys to swim! Thanks Noonie for heating the pool for them! They slept all the way home!

No worries, I WILL talk about adoption this month! I know you were worried I might forget!

Someone pinch me!

How in the world am I so blessed that I get to hang out with these munchkins all day?

Just thought you'd like to see some pictures!

Owen and Cooper trying to wink at me! Owen told me that only one eye "worked"- like the other one he couldn't wink with. Cooper's just looks like a good ole smile to me, but he was trying!

Our agency does a hayride every October for it's adoptive families! It's so much fun to see all of our friends every fall and meet new families through this! It's even open to families that haven't adopted through their agency! How cool is that? **I high-jacked the below pic from Turner's blog! It was too good Chassidy!**

Cooper blowing on his burnt marshmallows! Evidently I am no good at roasting marshmallows, but luckily our kids are easily impressed! Cooper smiling for me at the hayride. This did start out as a smile, but my camera wouldn't take the picture. When it finally did, this is what his face was doing! He was trying so hard to hold that smile for me!!!

Sadie Cakes enjoying some marshmallows. Yes, I believe in teaching my children early the value of a healthy diet.

All 3 of my munchkins at the bonfire after the hayride! It was such a blast!

This is Sadie on one of the days when it's just the two of us! The boys go to preschool (aka. Mothers Day Out) on Thursdays, so it's just sister and I that day and it's such a blast to get to have her by herself!

Have a blessed day!

For my family...

I've been meaning to take these pictures for a while now and just hadn't done it.

The outfit that Sadie is wearing here is one that ALL of the girls in my family have worn.

Myself, all 3 of my sisters, and all of my nieces have pictures in it. It's pretty special and I am so thankful my mom kept it for us to let our daughters wear.

So, here she is and might I add that Sadie looks fabulous in white and cream colors. Don't you agree?

Happy Sunday! More pictures to come from our fun weekend!

Our newest biker dude!

Cooper has mastered riding his bike without training wheels.

Yet again, our boys' athletic ablities have amazed us. We'd like to take credit for this feat and tell you that we've spent hours teaching him how to do this, but it's simply not true. These kids have an uncanny ability to balance.

I am hoping this comes in handy on the slopes!

I love seeing how much joy he gets out of riding without training wheels. We've been outside for every spare minute we have so he can ride up and down our street.

I can't help but just light up too! So proud of you Cooper!