Vague request

Okay all,

Will you pray with us? I don't want to give details here, but God knows what's going on.

There is a new piece of information regarding our adoption. Please pray that we have favor, and pray that we would be alright with whatever the outcome may be.

We just want our daughter home.

updated BDHQ site

Just a quick note to say that we've updated the BDHQ site.

The other week, I was interviewed for a local newspaper about our adoption story. More on that later if the article runs.

Anyway, it prompted me to clean up the site, which hadn't changed since the prize giveaway.

There's a "donate" button, and a page with our "virtual garage sale". Other fundraising information as it comes up.

So, keep those "There's No Place Like home" buttons up and I'll make sure bdhq.net has the latest information on what's going on in our fundraising efforts.

Pie? Shortcake? Ice Cream? Crisp? Slump?

What should we make with all the glorious strawberries we collected today?

With the warmer weather, comes the ability to go produce picking with the kids. In years past, we've done blueberries and blackberries in the summer, and apples in the fall. This is the first time I've been strawberry picking with the kids- I think the last time I picked strawberries was at the Carlsbad flower fields years ago when I was still living in San Diego!

If you go to this website, you can find all the local great produce offered in Tennessee. If you make calls, you'll get to speak with some of the farmers or farmer's wives directly and find out when they're expecting their bounty and if they have U-Pick times (or if they allow it at all). Some of the time, you offer condolences over a lost crop due to frost, or too much rain, or some other unfortunate occurrence. Yesterday, I learned that much of Middle TN will be without cherries- they've been splitting and getting brown rot this season because of our downpours.

But, we were able to find Uncle Al, of Uncle Al's Berry Farm, in Columbia. He was still offering U-Pick strawberries, so Angie and I went with the kids this morning. It was, indeed, quite a haul from where we live, but the experience was pleasantly worth it. My herniated disk was less than thrilled with the bending so, like an old lady, I quit and rested, and played photographer. But, those bright pops of red called my name and I'd stoop again. If you've ever been berry picking, you'll know that it becomes an addiction- that spotting a "perfect one" in amongst the leaves or ripening berries is a treasure. And when you've got one, it's hard to stop those wandering eyes from seeking the next one. And the next one. After a few more scoldings from Angie to watch my back (L5, S1, specifically), I truly, finally, quit it with the bending. Sometimes I'm stubborn. Wouldn't raised beds be wise for strawberries?!

All said and done, we came away with four pounds each, and made our trek home with the aroma of fresh strawberries filling the van.

Show Hope

Yesterday, I had the privilege of going to the office of Show Hope (the new name for Shaohannah's Hope) and giving them a check for $280. As most of you know, we committed to donating 10% of our prize giveaway donations to Show Hope for the purpose of further aiding orphans, and those in need of financial assistance to adopt. It's a drop in the bucket to them, but I know every little bit helps.

I didn't take pictures, because I didn't want to be a geek.

But, it was so great to put faces to all the wonderful people helping children make their way into loving families, helping orphans receive better care, and spreading HOPE. Caleb Chapman, Steven and Mary Beth Chapman's son, was there and he showed the kids the video he was working on.

I just enjoyed meeting a few of the staff and I didn't gush. But, I have a zillion things I would have wanted to say, were I not interrupting their workday!

I would have told them how I'd been devastated about Maria, and that I haven't stopped praying for their family. Tomorrow, actually, marks the one year mark since Maria Sue Chapman's death- lift up this family to the heavenly Father. Wounds must still be so raw, but we trust Him to be a strength to them and an unending well of refreshment and hope.

I would have told them that Show Hope and the Chapman family were a source of calm to me as I fleshed out my feelings of adoption at the beginning when we were realizing that was where we were headed. I kept returning to their websites and seeing how amazingly the Lord knit their family together and how He would do the same for us. That was back in 2006- when we thought we'd have our daughter home by now!

I would have also asked a ton of questions about how Show Hope got it's footing, and how it runs on a day-to-day basis.

You see, we've been so changed. Our eyes are opening, our hearts are opening, and we will never be the same. And we haven't even completed our adoption yet! We haven't been to India yet! Still, I know, that this is a remarkable time in our lives. I can safely say that this is life changing. I feel spurred on toward greater action. I have a passion for adoption and orphans now that was not there 3 years ago.

Eric and I have only briefly talked about it, but we are brainstorming about where we go from here. We'll bring Dorothy home- yes- but how do we *keep* doing this work? There are only so many kids we can bring into our very own home, and I think we're at our limit with 4. Yes, we've said that before (when we had two, AND when we had three!). "Never say never"- but I just can't imagine it right now.

All that said, Show Hope is doing that EVERYDAY- changing lives, caring for orphans, impacting families.

I know God will show us where to help, how to act, and where to go. For now, enjoy my little brainstorm session:

- adopt more children

- be foster parents

- fund other people's adoptions, personally or by setting up a charity

- start an agency to match children to families where there is a void

- build/ run an orphanage

- humanitarian aid/ missions to orphanages around the world... suppling needs and spreading love

- boldly speak on behalf of the orphan... being advocates for adoption and spreading the word

Tidbits are good

We won't *really* know about Dorothy's temperament until she is thriving with us, and she's allowed to blossom more. BUT, it is sweet to finally get a little bit of insight into how she is now in the orphanage setting.

We received this from our agency yesterday in answer to a few short questions (really, a plea for *something* about her):

1. She is walks with support
2. Yes!!!! she babbles.
3. She has a cool temptament.
4. She plays with other kids.
5. She is eating semi liquid foods.
6. She sleeps well.
7.She soothes herself playing with other children.

I want to compile a list of ALL our questions to ask in the future (likely when we travel and can talk the nannies directly through the translator). We're not expecting any birth family information because of the nature of how she came to the orphanage. But What would you/ have you asked?

My heart aches

I WANT HER HOME!!!!

Here are the latest update photos of Dorothy. She's as beautiful as ever, with soulful eyes and sweet hair, kissable lips, and a nibble-worthy neck. But her legs also look so scrawny and I can't tell if she's being supported to stand (or just being held still to stay in the frame). All of our kids were walking at her age. Could it be possible that she's not even standing alone yet? *Sigh* I just want her home to help her thrive. She's our daughter regardless of anything that's delayed, regardless of any shortcomings in development (and there might not even be any!) but I just ache to have her in my arms and in our home. Nourishing her. Holding her. Kissing her.

And bringing out that smile that we've yet to see.

I want her home.

5 Ninjas, I tell you!

First was Dean, diving off the couch into the coffee table.

Next came Lael with her surgery in December.

Our newest member to join the "I've had stitches" Club is Grant.

Here he is waiting in the hall at Vanderbilt Children's hospital before being seen by the physician. At this point, a triage nurse had already taken his vitals and slathered on numbing gel and a protective cling film to hold it all in place. Obviously, he was in pretty good spirits and enjoying the fun of being in a wheelchair. This is before the nervousness over stitches sunk in.

How did it happen? Ugh. He and his cousin were in the back of a 15 passenger van that the seats had been taken out of. They had been helping Uncle Tim move things using the van like a truck. They were riding in the back, sitting on the wheel well, I think, when a turn or stop knocked them off balance. Grant's knee hit the latch that holds the seats, I think. Tore his knee wide open. Deep. Eric and I got the call that he'd been hurt badly and that they were coming to us. It was Saturday night at about 5:45pm. No doctor's offices were open. No urgent care. But when Grant arrived, and we could see it in person, we realized that the E.R. would have been the only option regardless of timing. It was pretty bad, and wasn't bleeding.

Of course, at that moment, I was covered in paint painting the girls' room. Eric took Grant to Vandy, I got cleaned up and put all the paint away then my brother-in-law, my nephew and I headed there as well.

Grant was quite brave, and handled it like a champ. We used good breathing techniques, my silent prayers, and pep talks from Dad to mentally get past the fear of being stitched up. The gel was AMAZING. The doctor said a lot of children can be stitched up without ever getting a shot. Grant was still feeling things, though, so he had a number of numbing shots in addition to the gel. Our physician was a plastic surgeon who was extremely careful to match the skin nicely (how good to be in the right place at the right time!). I think it was about 30 minutes of stitching for the nine stitches. It only took until stitch number 7 before Grant relaxed and commented "I can believe him (the doctor), Mom, he really is going to tell me what he's doing and it really doesn't hurt!". After we finished, Uncle Tim had a double decker taco all ready for the wounded boy and we made our way to Maggie Moos!

Because the story of how things happened is less than wonderful (no one likes admitting that their child was not strapped in while driving), and its certainly not a daring adventure type of injury, Eric helped Grant develop a story to tell others. Grant seems to be more into relaying the truth to everyone, so he might not tell you about successfully fighting off 5 ninjas and walking away with only a nick from a stray ninja star. Oh well.

Great idea

Fabulously great idea of the day

You've got to read the comments on that one, too- lots of laughs!