tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59936444725013738462024-03-12T16:09:41.872-07:00The Cole Clan, Life with Seven!!Life after adoption. bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-11731297268923596852016-04-24T00:03:00.000-07:002016-04-24T00:03:10.179-07:00So Sorry, It has been so long!!!!!Update:<br />
<span id="goog_1699203418"></span><span id="goog_1699203419"></span>I'm not even sure what to say it has been so long. I remember thinking that I wouldn't be that parent. I wouldn't be the one that once my kids were adopted I would go silent. But the thing is, life happens, life gets hard, and suddenly spending time writing blogs becomes the last thing on the list of things to do during the day. So today I figured a quick update was better than no update.<br />
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Bella is growing and learning so much. She now has a communication device and knows a ton of signs. She communicates and interacts, and completely tells us how she is feeling. She is so dramatic and hard headed. She loves to swing, and spend time at the park. She loves school, food, and family. She is a snugly sweetheart.<br />
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Gracie is the most joyful child I have ever met. She lights up the room when she walks in. She had a long road to recovery, but we are getting there. She has had many many doctors appointments over the last few years, and we continue finding ways to help her communicate. She loves the sun, has favorite toys, interacts with people, and knows she is loved. She is learning daily, and has even started saying sounds, we are hopeful that one day she will talk. Even if she doesn't we love her where she is at, and for all that she is.</div>
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Last time I wrote, we were headed back to Ukraine to adopt again. Plans changed and we actually are almost finished with an adoption through foster care. Gideon has been in our home for almost a year and hopefully we will be headed to Kansas to finish up his adoption within the next month. Because of the nature of Gideon coming from foster care I really can not give any details until his adoption is finalized. He is a blessed addition to our family. </div>
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On another note, I'm planning on blogging more often. I will be changing up the site, and posting educational things that I am doing to help my children learn. Having three children who have multiple disabilities has been challenging to find services that do a great job of teaching. Things like tactile books, position boards, tactile schedules, and story boxes. Teaching tools that teach to the varying strengths of my kiddos.<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> </span></span></span> So stay tuned.</div>
bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-57308367989759555212014-06-11T20:26:00.001-07:002014-06-11T20:26:22.653-07:00Life keeps me on my toes. This blog has been on my mind for a while, but to find time to sit without interruptions seems to be a rare occasion.<br />
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Here is the promised update:<br />
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GRACIE:<br />
Home almost 18 months. She is so much fun, she is always smiling. Gracie is at a stage full of curiosity, she roams around this house like she can see like the rest of us. She loves to throw my clean laundry on the floor, get into the toy closet and pull out all of the toys. She is developing and changing, even though sometimes the process seems slow going. I often get asked when is she going to talk. Honestly I have no idea, maybe she will never talk. We love her no matter what, if she speaks someday that will be wonderful if not we love her no less. Some days I forget that she spent the first 6 years of her life in an orphanage/ institution. Then other days it is hard to forget because the past life leaves scars that will take years to fade. Watching her grow though is just so precious<br />
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BELLA:</div>
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Home almost 18 months. This one is a drama queen. She has learned how to push my buttons, and thinks she is so funny. (Well she really is.) The looks she gives me when she knows she is doing something wrong, well they are just to much. In the last few months she has grown so much, I think it is mostly because SHE IS WALKING. Yes you heard that correctly my girl has learned how to walk. She has overcome so much, last year she got really sick and she regressed so much. We are thankful now because she is doing very well, and as far as communicating she is signing a ton. I have so much joy watching her explore her world.</div>
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bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-9095978965944326372014-05-30T16:19:00.000-07:002014-05-30T21:44:00.899-07:00We Are Headed Back!Ok, I spent a day trying to make my blog look cute and failed. I have way to much to do, so it is just going to have to stay plain for a while. <br />
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NEWS!!!! We are headed back oversees to adopt another child. <br />
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Let me go back and start at how this came to be. Dan and I several months ago decided that we wanted to adopt again, however we were going to do a domestic adoption. It seemed simple, easy, no fundraising, no dossier! It seemed like the thing to do. So we went back to our social worker and she approved us to adopt one more child. It wasn't to hard, we didn't tell anyone, and we registered online to adopt a child with down syndrome through foster care. This is where our story changed. The process is different and we just couldn't go with it. There are people in the United States waiting to adopt children with down syndrome. We were just another number on a list. Dan and I both just couldn't wrap our heads around that. Where our girls were born they were stuck, unloved, nobody wanted them, and they definitely didn't have a list of people waiting and ready to adopt them. Together we decided we just needed to go back.<br />
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So the last few weeks have been a blur. We updated our home study for international adoption, and have done several of the initial things to get the process started. We are a home study ready family and this process is going to go quickly. We will be sending off for immigration approval soon, and about half our dossier will be traveling to Eastern Europe next week. <br />
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Dan and I have a few fundraisers going on. We need to come up with 2000.00 quickly. So if you feel led to help we are extremely grateful. We are extremely blessed to be headed down this road again, and know that we couldn't have adopted the girls without you. So thank you.<br />
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I do have a t-shirt fundraiser going but it ends in 12 days, so I need to sell 45 shirts in 12 days to raise the 500.00. Please, share, pray, buy a t-shirt. My other fundraiser will start tomorrow! (Details coming soon.)<br />
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Update on the girls to come soon! They are doing great!</div>
bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-79744011172920809372014-05-27T07:27:00.002-07:002014-05-27T07:27:30.631-07:00We have news!!!!!! A quick hint, I need to change the header of this blog!!!! Update on the girls to come soon.bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-40168930634874594572013-08-23T18:29:00.001-07:002013-08-23T20:19:22.825-07:008 Months Home. A quick update.<br />
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Time just keeps zooming by. It is hard to believe that Bella and Gracie have been home for over 8 months. They are growing, learning, and it feels like they have always been here. <br />
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GRACIE just a week ago has learned to give hugs. She knows she is loved, she knows after a session of therapy that I am there for a hug. She knows when she gets off from the school bus that I will meet her. She knows that whatever happens that she can snuggle and now the hugs are given and received so freely. This is a huge milestone for her, she is comforted by her parents. This was not always the case for the longest time she comforted herself from the stress of life because that was all she knew. She now knows differently. My daughter knows what it feels like to be loved and it is really wonderful.<br />
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Gracie turned 7 this month.</div>
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BELLA is doing wonderful. We have gotten past almost all of the medical stuff she was dealing with, and she is back to her happy self. She is working so hard on mastering walking, and she does it with such a joyful spirit. </div>
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These two love each other. </div>
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Gracie's hair is growing out!</div>
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Bella playing with a toy appropriately.</div>
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bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-24943198852704729062013-05-19T14:02:00.001-07:002013-05-19T14:02:56.291-07:005 Months Home.<br />
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I can hardly believe the girls have been home for 5 months. These months have been filled with doctors appointments. It can be a bit overwhelming with how often we have gone to the doctor. They both have had dental surgery, they both have had there tonsils and adenoids removed, they have both started therapy 2 times a week. We have our up's and downs, but one thing that is constant is that they are both blossoming. Oh my goodness my precious Gracie. She is a different child, she is no longer the self stimulating child who wanted to sit in the window for hours at a time. She is talking, imitating more and more words daily. She is eating big people food (chewing food), she is going to school everyday, she roams around the house going up and down stairs. She seems to get taller and taller every day. She is joyful and always laughing and giggling. It is so wonderful watching her interact with her brothers, they all love her so much.<br />
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Miss Bella has had many ups and downs over the past few months. After her tonsil were removed, we have spent a great deal of time at the doctors, including a stay in the hospital for dehydration. She is such a fighter, and she knows she has our love even through all of the sickness she has gone through.<br />
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I can say I am amazed daily by these two sweethearts, they bring our family and those around us nothing but joy. Every bit of stress that we went through to go get these two was completely worth it. We are loving life and cant wait to see what the next 5 months bring. I have watched as these two with proper love, and nourishment have blossomed.bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-22630454537902645602013-02-19T21:42:00.002-08:002013-02-21T08:13:02.573-08:002 months home.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I didn't know how to come here and post, so here it goes we are HOME!!!! Gracie, and Bella are our daughters and are loved so much. Dan brought the girls home on December 21st, 2012. Our trip for the most part was smooth, and everything in country went ok. There are so many things I want to share, but I just don't know where to start, or what to say. So today I will share progress. We traveled to our girls and it was love at first sight. We waited so long and it was pure bliss. My heart was torn to see the girls in the conditions that they were living in, especially Gracie. Gracie was in an institution and there is so much to say, and I promise I will go there another time. The brokenness you see in institutions, well I still don't have the words to tell you how it has impacted me and changed me forever. Today's post is really to show the changes that have been made in just a short amount of time being home. Really all I can say is I saw the hand of God in this adoption, and REDEMPTION!! ADOPTION is HARD, I don't really want to say it has all been easy. (Because easy is the last word I would us to describe it.) But look at the transformation in my girls in a few months and you will see why adoption needs to happen. These girls lives have been saved, and it isn't all easy once you get them home to family, but it is so so worth it. These are only 2 of millions of children who have broken spirits, living in neglect, and conditions that you can not even imagine, even if I told you. This haunts me on a daily basis, my two are out but so so many more are left behind and even I will go through my day sometime and forget with the daily time consuming life of raising 6 children. I don't want to ever forget, and watching my girls heal from life of living there for 6 years is precious, amazing, wonderful, maddening, and angering to me at times. 6 years of institutionalized life needs to be broken, and they have come so far, but it is really really hard.</div>
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When we met Bella she could not crawl, or walk. She would sit in a spot and not move, she would zone, and when handed a toy she only had enough fine motor skills to throw it. She was only eating from a bottle, she didn't have the ability to chew. She was very floppy, her legs and her arms were like jello. It was hard for her to sit on our lap without falling off. When we met her she pushed me away she preferred to be by herself. She would harm herself with biting and hitting. Bella is 6 years old, and in the photos she is wearing a dress that is size 24 months. However, during our visits we noticed Bella start to get bigger. We were feeding her daily when we would visit her, she started crawling, and was interacting with us more at each visit. While spending time with her in the orphanage she learned how to drink from a sippy cup, she learned how to laugh, she learned patty cake, how to clap, and wave hi. I was in awe to see my daughter come alive before my eyes, all from 2 hours of attention a day.</div>
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When we met Gracie, she was a little ball of energy, and I called her my little koala bear because if she can get you to pick her up, you are going to have to pry her off from you. She was so little, and thin. In these pictures Grace is 6 years old. She may have been tiny in stature but not in spirit. I really think that is how she made it a year being in the institution. She was constantly on the go, but if we interacted with her to much, she would have melt downs. She coped with too much, with self stimming behaviors. She constantly had her finger pressed hard into her eye, and her thumb in her mouth, and she rocked non stop. We didn't get to visit her as much as Bella because she was so far out from the city. However, after a few visits she knew we were coming because of the routine of getting ready for us. Leaving our visits and giving her back was the hardest thing I had to do while we were there. She needed out immediately.</div>
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Dan made the long journey home with our daughters on December 21st 2012. We were reunited as a family after I made a long trip across Nebraska to pick them up from the airport in a blizzard. Our family was together for Christmas. So much joy to this mama's heart. Joyously I took care of there every need. They were like infants in so many ways, but I love them where they are at, and do everything I can to make them feel secure in there new life. </div>
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The girls are doing so well, learning so much, and growing!!!!!!!!! I can not believe how tall they are, it almost seems physically impossible to me but they really are just shooting up, and getting taller. </div>
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Bella has learned 3 signs. She can sign eat, please, and more. She can say the word eat. She crawls all over our house, and usually makes her way to the laundry room because she likes the drier. She has a preference of toys and knows which ones are her favorite. She loves baths, and smiles non stop. She is such a JOY. She interacts and wants attention now. She is LOVED so much. She is making progress.</div>
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Gracie is doing so well since she has been home. She is a little fireball. She is so funny and always has us laughing so much. She came home and loved being in the sun. She would sit in the sunlight so much. She loves music, and hums tunes. She has learned 2 signs, eat, and please. She has learned how to chew, and feed herself. Her progress is slow but we have seen gains in 2 short months .Her balance is so much better now, and she knows she is LOVED. I keep telling myself down syndrome isn't a problem for her, if only down syndrome was the only issue. Her issues stem back to being left in an orphanage for 6 years, she has learned ways to cope with no love, and no interaction and it will take time to a lot of time to break through all of the institutionalization. We are making progress.<br />
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Today is 2 months home, and look at how great the girls look. I really believe that there lives have been saved. I am amazed daily, and thankful, and honored to be there mom. I am extremely blessed to call these two precious children my daughters. Our family is better because of them, who new how much two little girls could teach me in a matter of a few months. They are LOVED, and TREASURED forever.</div>
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Gracie Maria Cole</div>
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Bella Anastasia Cole</div>
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bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-37800254487553674232012-10-17T21:32:00.002-07:002012-10-17T21:56:23.219-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;">We have a date, we need to be in country on November 5th. We have plane tickets and will be leaving on the 2nd. Things are starting to fall into place. I never thought this day would come, it almost feels like a dream. So much has been thrown at us, and it feels good to know we persevered, we made it through even when there was little to no chance that we would. The Lord held my hand down a road that was painful, and asked me to do nothing but to have faith in Him. Yet, he opened the doors to allow us to go back down this road. </span> I am so completely blessed to be here now. O<span style="text-align: start;">ne last thing standing in the way of me and the girls. Please please share our need. I would be lying if I suggested I wasn't concerned. I'm concerned. But while being concerned I know it will work itself out. I have no more fundraisers nothing, nothing left. After readjusting what we need to be fully funded we still need 4475.00 in 15 days. That is 298.00 a day. I hold on to faith to get us through this as our tickets are here, our bags are packed and we are so so ready to bring home the girls. They have waited so long. While in country I will be updating on a group on facebook. If you would like to be included in that group let me know. It will tell of our journey, and have photos. I will leave you with recent pictures of them now. I humbly ask you to please pray, share, and donate to help them come home.</span></div>
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<br />bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-19586639905403629802012-09-19T22:07:00.002-07:002012-09-19T22:07:51.579-07:00My heart is heavy tonight with gratitude. I don't even know if I have the words to express how I feel. When I am overcome with emotion, my words always get twisted and I never seem to say adequately what I am thinking. Tonight I am just so so thankful. I know I have said it over and over again but really I am just astounded as to how others have helped us through this process. It was a humbling experience before to have people, strangers hand us money because they wanted to help us get our girls. However humbling and unbelievable it was before, it is even more so now. To think we were fully funded and almost traveled five months ago, to needing more to be able to travel again. It was hard before but this time it is even harder to ask others to help out. I am just so shockingly amazed every time someone thinks of us, and blesses us with a donation. Don't think your donations go unnoticed. They are appreciated and we rejoice everytime. I completely understand what our economy is like right now, and know that your gifts could be used somewhere else, yet you choose to help us, and everytime I think about it I get teary. I so don't deserve all of you shouting out to the world for our little (well soon to be big) family. We are just one ordinary family, nothing special about us. We don't live in a huge house, we don't drive fancy cars, we are even known to eat boxed macaroni and cheese a few too many times during the week. We are just a family that listened to the whispers of our God, who told us to go. I know that there is at least 1 of you out there that wants to do the same. Please don't wait any longer. Please make the choice to save another life. There are others that will support you, I will support you. Please I am asking you to ask yourself if you have room in your family to love just one more child. If the answer is yes, then adoption is doable, and so absolutely worth it.bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-20845465783978492682012-09-13T06:50:00.002-07:002012-09-13T06:53:32.443-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;">I don't really have anything profound to say. Today is a good day. We are submitted again. We will have a travel date soon. Girlies we are on our way soon. So blessed to be this far. Please check out our current fundraiser. If you have little girls, I have the coolest auction on facebook. Please check it out. So far there are 40 outfits new from Gymboree, all different sizes and I have made matching bows to go with each outfit. Come check it out here </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gymboree-AuctionHair-Bows-Help-Nellie-and-Katelyn-come-Home/376569449078999">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gymboree-AuctionHair-Bows-Help-Nellie-and-Katelyn-come-Home/376569449078999</a></div>
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<br />bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-7323994284036675952012-09-07T22:13:00.002-07:002012-09-07T22:13:53.379-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Several months ago we bought headboards for the girls beds. Today was the day to put them together and Noah was more than happy to help. bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-59740885852466978282012-09-03T18:18:00.001-07:002012-09-03T18:18:27.192-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="text-align: start;">I forgot to mention yesterday that we are no longer fully funded. This time around I am not fretting about this God provided once and I know He will again. Because of needing new airline tickets, and redoing all our paperwork we are still 4500.00 short. We have about 6 weeks before we travel. I just wanted to put that need out there. I have been making bows that so many of you guys have been buying like hotcakes. So I decided to try my hand at tutu's and matching bows. So hense, my newest fundraiser. I have available this ice cream set, the cost is 30.00. If you would like to buy it let me know. If you would like to order any other theme let me know and I will get working. My little model didn't want to take it off. </span></div>
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or this set is up for bid at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/262909950486010/">https://www.facebook.com/events/262909950486010/</a> </div>
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This mini auction is up tomorrow.</div>
<br />bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-15119349730430701722012-09-01T22:41:00.000-07:002012-09-01T22:41:01.791-07:00I'm Back!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coming back to write a post on my blog is a bit overwhelming. I spent a good 8 months, with high and low emotions that go along with adoption, and to scroll through the posts I see how it ends abruptly right when we thought we were to be leaving to get the girls. How devastating the last several months have been. I can't even tell you how I longed to leave the country and bring those girls home. I have debated with myself for the last month weather I should come back and blog at all. The last few days I have been getting comments from different people asking if they could have access to my blog. I thought to myself oh how disappointed would they be to get here and see nothing for the past several months. There was no happy ending to our story. (YET) So as of now, my blog will be opened back up for the few readers that I have. My ultimate goal for this blog is for others to see redemption in adoption. I so badly want everyone I know to get it, and maybe my words will encourage someone down the road. I am not the most elegant writer, I have several blogger friends that write, and my they write how I feel. IT isn't about my writing skills but it is about my heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All I can say is our adoption is back on track, we had a problem and we couldn't travel to our first appointment. In the long run we ended up having to redo our home study, be re approved for immigration, and send in a new dossier to the girls country. All of these things are done, and we are back at the point of waiting to be submitted and then waiting for a travel date. So here we wait for another 4 to 6 weeks until we travel. So everything seems to be good. There is one thing that has greatly changed in these months and it is me. It is really hard to explain, but these months I have learned more of a true dependence on my savior. There were days of deep pain, yet there were days when I was in complete praise. I was crushed, heart broken and desperately I wanted to do whatever I could to get to my girls, but there was nothing that I physically could do to change the situation. I had no power at all. Here is the greatest difference you will see in me, I finally get it. I have no power in anything by myself. If this adoption is to occur, it is all the Lord's doing. Did I get that before, yes sort of. The difference is I fully have confidence and trust in the fact that if we are to adopt these girls then the Lord will make the way, in His time, and in His way. I am truly at peace with that. He has the ultimate plan in work here. <span style="background-color: white;">Peace, I think I have learned that no matter what the </span><span style="background-color: white;">circumstance</span><span style="background-color: white;"> I can have peace, and joy.</span></span><br />
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<span class="text Phil-4-6" id="en-NIV-29449"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>Do not be anxious about anything,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29449A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29449B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup></span> <span class="text Phil-4-7" id="en-NIV-29450"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>And the peace of God,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29450C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> which transcends all understanding,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29450D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup> will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</span></div>
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<span class="text Phil-4-8" id="en-NIV-29451">Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.</span> <span class="text Phil-4-9" id="en-NIV-29452">Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29452E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> And the God of peace<sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29452F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup> will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9</span></div>
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<span class="text Phil-4-9"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the way God uses this verse in my life. When I first started following Him, this verse was one that helped me start to break through the baggage of my past. These months I have clung to this verse in a completely different way. One where Jesus has held me up and showed me how to have peace in my heart not matter what. </span><span style="font-family: Charis SIL, charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-4935709706899529542012-08-01T22:35:00.000-07:002012-08-01T22:35:04.109-07:00I have been contemplating this post for months now. I don't even know exactly what to say. First, I am so sorry that I haven't blogged about our circumstance. Most of you have no idea what has happened but we have not yet traveled to go get the girls. It has been a long 4 months and I will go more into detail of what has happened soon. I will continue to keep my blog closed until after we travel. Yes, Lord willing we will be traveling again soon. Continue praying friends.<br />
A dear friend gave me a devotional book a while ago called Jesus Calling, and these words I often think about, somehow they put it all into perspective for me. Four months of pain have also been four months that have really taught me how to joyously live for the Lord. <br />
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Do no resist or run from difficulties in your life. These problems are not random mistakes, they are hand tailored blessings designed for your benefit and growth. Embrace all the circumstances that I allow in your life, trusting Me to bring good out of them. View problems as opportunities to rely more fully on Me.<br />
When you start to feel stressed, let those feelings alert you to your need for Me. Thus, your needs become doorways to deep dependence on Me and increasing intimacy between us. Although self sufficiency is acclaimed in the world, reliance on Me produces abundant living in My kingdom. Thank Me for the difficulties in your life since they provide protection from idolatry of self reliance.bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-10351617034808846512012-04-18T05:48:00.000-07:002012-04-18T05:48:37.981-07:002 Days!!!!!Ok, I knew leaving my boys would be difficult, but tomorrow is the day and emotionally it is so so hard. My 13 year old is expressing it the most that it is going to be hard for him to have us gone for so long. He is concerned and very worried so please pray for Him. My youngest isn't verbally saying how this is affecting him but I can see it loud and clear through his body language. He has been stuck to my hip for days. The middle boys seem to be okay for the moment but I know a week or two and they are going to be wanting to go home. So please keep us in your prayers this is a hard 6 week transition. It pulls my heart into two directions, I want to be home with my boys yet I want to go get my girls. I never knew how hard these days would be. They are in good hands and I am so thankful for Grandparents.<div>Our bags are packed. We leave in 2 days. Today I am focusing on paperwork. Paperwork to take, bills that need paid, schoolwork that will need to continue to need to be done. It is a bit overwhelming, so I hope I can get through it all today.</div>bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-43121176515027430402012-04-13T08:53:00.000-07:002012-04-13T08:53:59.496-07:00I have waited and waited for this day. (Still learning patience) We can say today that we are fully funded!!!! MY heart is over joyed today as I sit in amazement at how my God has provided for our adoption. This has not been an easy 8 months, but would I change any part of it, absolutely not. Today is a good day and I come here today to say thank you to all of you who felt led to help us through your prayers and by giving. I am so humbled to say thank you as I know many many of you gave so sacrificially. I write this with tears streaming down my face as I think about all of the people in this adoption. This is one obstacle no longer in our way. This barrier has been broken, my God is good all the time. He always makes a way. We were called to bring these girls home but without you it would have never have been possible. Now we journey across the country in just 7 days to go hold the girls that were always in our hearts. I am just over the moon excited to go. God is in this, and He is continually paving the way though. He continues to prove faithful, even when my head ponders the possibilities that this wasn't going to happen. Praising God, today!!bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-91045359601209584812012-04-12T08:33:00.000-07:002012-04-12T08:33:59.729-07:00Overwhelmed today. I sit here in tears as I watch others step in and help us with the last of our funding. A few weeks ago, I was like okay God, I have nothing left to do. I have no more fundraisers, I have nothing left to do to make this happen, I was wiped and drained emotionally, financially and had to just turn it over to God. When I let go and trust in Him I am in awe as he has turned others hearts towards us. Not just one or two but several people, several families are in process of helping us come up with the rest of our funds. I truly am not worried, because God has provided everything so far and we are only short a measly 1000.00. I humbly say thank you to all of you. The last 8 months money has been slowly but steadily pouring in. I look at the relationships I have made along the way, and others in my community that I will have lasting relationships with as they poured out love over our family. God is doing so much more here than just providing the money for our adoption. He has opened up my eyes, and my heart to people just like me. 8 days and counting, we are 8 days from boarding a plane to meet our daughters. I am overjoyed even thinking about it.bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-49356345445826638992012-04-10T11:02:00.000-07:002012-04-10T11:02:36.352-07:00Praying, Packing, Praying Packing!!!!We are going to be boarding a plane in 10 days. I am completely overwhelmed I have so much to do, as well as continue every day life. Our newest plan is to stay in country for the whole 5 to 6 weeks to get our girls. Unless something happens and we have an extra long wait. It is hard to believe that we are 1000.00 dollars away from being fully funded. I just can't believe it. So picture me frantically running around trying to get every last detail taken care of, I'm at the point where sitting on a plane for all those hours is actually looking like it might be relaxing. So giddy, really cant believe we are going to be there soon.bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-20175332505925615232012-04-06T08:57:00.001-07:002012-04-06T08:57:23.749-07:00We are on our way!!! 14 days and counting!!!!We have our tickets, we leave from Omaha at around 12:00pm on Friday April 20th, we have two weeks. Oh my goodness, I need to pack. I'm still in shock and can't believe it. We will be there soon!!! We even have about a 4 hour layover in Munich, where we will meet another family that is traveling to go get there daughter so we will be able to travel together to Kiev. How exciting is that!!! We will be in Kiev on April 21st about 4:30 pm. It is still unknown as far as how long we will be there, when we will come home if the holiday will make our stay a lot longer, if we will come home before court or after court, or if we will stay the entire trip. Oh my goodness I'm letting God take control, because I have no control over any of it. This has been a reoccurring theme for me this week, let go let God. It is all in His timing and for His purpose.bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-43255774362331797632012-04-05T12:40:00.000-07:002012-04-05T12:40:16.006-07:00Winners of PrizesYeah!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N6U6duuA84g/TzPdBfv1Q6I/AAAAAAAAAcY/1XaXSVWho4E/s1600/Walmart_Gift_Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N6U6duuA84g/TzPdBfv1Q6I/AAAAAAAAAcY/1XaXSVWho4E/s200/Walmart_Gift_Card.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Prize #1 100.00 giftcard to Walmart</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Prize # 2 100.00 giftcard to Target</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Prize #3 A Vera Bradley bag.<br />
Carol M.</td></tr>
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</tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;"> Prize #4</span><br />
<div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;">There is one for each month and then one with a cupcake for birthday. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/258852324203042/">https://www.facebook.com/events/258852324203042/</a> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BowagI6l0yc/T3jhhYHdHaI/AAAAAAAAAtg/V3jkEOxnk34/s1600/2012-03-19+10.01.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BowagI6l0yc/T3jhhYHdHaI/AAAAAAAAAtg/V3jkEOxnk34/s320/2012-03-19+10.01.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tA1XfCQ-W7g/T3jhnD1qnaI/AAAAAAAAAto/yzHgvGlX8Fw/s1600/2012-03-22+01.10.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tA1XfCQ-W7g/T3jhnD1qnaI/AAAAAAAAAto/yzHgvGlX8Fw/s320/2012-03-22+01.10.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FudZwl_LTQc/T3jhrHGAhGI/AAAAAAAAAtw/zEAirE80xZM/s1600/2012-03-26+10.39.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FudZwl_LTQc/T3jhrHGAhGI/AAAAAAAAAtw/zEAirE80xZM/s320/2012-03-26+10.39.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D5w1PhEPumk/T3jhu9j2q5I/AAAAAAAAAt4/Hz7p5JxciyI/s1600/2012-03-20+10.07.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D5w1PhEPumk/T3jhu9j2q5I/AAAAAAAAAt4/Hz7p5JxciyI/s320/2012-03-20+10.07.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Here are a few of the bows I have made.bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-85950989051068021262012-04-01T16:06:00.000-07:002012-04-01T16:06:30.405-07:00Balloon Release Success.I know it has been a long time since I have posted. I keep thinking well in another few days we will have a travel date. Nope not yet, praying again for tomorrow but I'm not very hopeful, could be this week, or possibly next week. I have been saying this for many weeks now. It will happen eventually. I have been super busy trying to raise the last bit of money we need. We are down to 2600.00, I really cant believe we are that close to fully funded, only God could have made this possible. The fundraising part the part that I have been the most uncomfortable with, has brought me several new friends in my community, friends who have already traveled down the road we are headed.<br />
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Our balloon release was a huge success and we raised a lot of money. The Mosley's and our family each raiser 2400.00. You guys were such a huge part of this. Thank you so much for buying balloons to support us. It was a beautiful day, and I can't wait to do it again next year. I will draw for winners for the giftcards and prizes hopefully tonight.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz2lC3-Iun5FKkJcKQUMOjqzHMocz-r7rRN5kpWo32Yzof_vsRQ7X7ttg2q4M3ugXW5-6vT3Zmf3NRXWnxLLw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-70443190332009374682012-03-21T06:31:00.000-07:002012-03-21T06:31:11.357-07:00Still no date, praying for Monday. We should be part of the next group, there are only 5 of us left that need dates. <br />
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Today is World Down Syndrome Day. I find it interesting that even though special needs has been on my heart for years, that I have a degree in special education, that we have Sherry who has down syndrome living with us,I have never heard of this day before. About a month ago a lady that I have become friends with, she is the head of the Down Syndrome Support group in our community she told me about this day. In fact our fundraiser on Sunday is to help celebrate this day. This day forever more will not go unnoticed in our home. It is so amazing to see the support for those who have children with Down Syndrome in our community. I am so blessed to see that 104 people have signed up to come walk in our Step Up For Down Syndrome Walk. Even though I continue to say how hard this process has been for us, there is no way I could have made it without all of the new people the Lord has brought into my life, they have helped so much.<br />
I long to hold those girls in my arms. I know the day is coming but the wait is getting hard, the financial part is getting close to being needed and we are still short 6500. My blog has to be closed until we are home with our newest members of our family and I am at a loss for what I am supposed to do. So here it is I have finally given it up, ok God you are in control here there is nothing else that I can physically do to raise the last amount that keeps us from getting to the girls. It is all up to Him and I am weary yet excited to see how He will provide. My faith I tell you has grown leaps and bounds over the last 8 months, I have done thing that I never could have done before to get these girls. A few days ago I was ready to jump off from mountain tops all by myself if obstacles stood in our way. Then I remember again that every single moment of this has a purpose. I have to continue to know that the Lord can carry me through those obstacles and in the end I find myself drawn closer to Him. I think in one of my first blog posts I suggested that God would stretch me in ways I had no clue about. Yes friends he has done that in so many ways.<br />
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So here I am with a handful of reader, I an asking you to please shout from the rooftops about our adoption. I have nothing left to entice you to help except my profound plea that these girls are worth having a family. They are worth having someone to love them. They are worth so much more than what they have been given which is a ticket to a mental institution which is coming very soon. Please continue to pray, for the last leg of this process. I am expectantly praying that next year when we have our step up for Down Syndrome walk that two special little girls will be right by my side as we proudly show the world how worth it they really are.bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5993644472501373846.post-58142411319799271002012-03-17T21:34:00.000-07:002012-03-17T21:34:01.884-07:00Quick UpdateSeveral of you have asked why we went private on our blog. We were asked to by the people who help us with our adoption. After we get the girls home we can open it up again. This makes me a bit uneasy as we are still in the fundraising process so, when you want to link to our blog and cant the next best thing to do is link us to Reeces Rainbow <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/22870/sponsorcole">http://reecesrainbow.org/22870/sponsorcole</a>bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272107990407148559noreply@blogger.com0