Our Chinese Butterflies: The NEED is GREAT!!

Our Chinese Butterflies: The NEED is GREAT!!:                     I want to introduce you to Jack and Jensen.  Two very special boys.  Jack has a disease called...

The NEED is GREAT!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to introduce you to Jack and Jensen.  Two very special boys.  Jack has a disease called Xeroderma Pigmentosum or XP.  It is a rare genetic disorder that makes it impossible for the DNA to repair damage caused by ultraviolet light.  Unfortunately, Jack has not always been able to receive proper management of his condition and is now in great need of medical attention.  Sweet Jensen has cerebral palsy.  His biggest issue is  TIME.  See Jensen will age out of the system the first week of August.  He will turn 14 and no longer be eligible to be adopted. 

 

Angela and Jon have been given their invitation to travel and adopt these boys.  Angela will be traveling alone and IS leaving on Friday.  This Friday, in 4 days!!!  Their only road block remaining:  $3300.00 

 

That's it folks $3300.00 is all that is needed to rescue 2 orphans.  I have enter a challenge to help them raise these funds, along with hopefully 16 other people.  We are each praying and working at chipping away at this large mountain. 

 

We, including you, can do this.  We can show Angela, Jon, their boys at home and their boys in China what God's love really looks like.

 

All I am asking is that you help me reach my goal of $200.00.  I don't have much to offer but prayer for your family and 2 sets of movie tickets, to 2 lucky people.

 

Not much but it is a very small token of my appreciation to you for helping this wonderful family. 

 

All you need to do is donate, any amount, to their FSP and then come back here and comment.  On Friday I will draw two lucky names.

 

http://reecesrainbow.org/49527/sponsorjack

 

 

We can do this!!!  All you need to do is give up a few small treats this week. 

 

Thank you so much for reading about this awesome family and these beautiful boys!!  Please spread the word, pray, and donate.

 

Any amount will help get them home.

 

Thank you and praying for you,

 

Suzanne

 

If you want to read their blog:

 

http://ourfamilysescapades.blogspot.com/

Feng's Surgery

I have been told that our sweet Feng will be having surgery tomorrow, Thursday, morning for a complete repair of her heart.  That is about 9 hours from now, CST.  They feel that the surgery is the safe part and that they are very concerned about getting her off the ventilator and her recovery. 

Could you please take a moment and say a prayer for our Angel in China.  Pray for the doctors, nurses and nanny that will be with her.  Pray she comes off the ventilator easily and quickly.  Pray her pain is controlled and for a successful surgery.

Please, Please, Please say some special prayers for our girl this evening around 7 pm.

Thank you,

Suzanne

YOU MADE IT HAPPEN!!!!!

We reached and surpassed our goal of $350.00!!!!!

Thank you so much for helping us.  We are thanking God daily for all of your help.  

 

 

 

 To our sweet little ladies in China:  We love you and are working hard to bring you home!!  Hang on Feng and keep fighting.

 

God Bless each of you and I am praying for you.

 

Suzanne

Matching Grant

We have been blessed to receive a matching grant from ANONYMOUS ANGELS!!!  We have one week to meet their matching grant of $350.  We are currently needing to raise funds for our USCIS fees.  They are $1610.00, of which we currently have saved $482.28.  This matching grant would be so incredible helpful.   Our final home study visit is scheduled for April 25th.

 

I currently don't have anything to offer you.  Would you please consider helping us.  If I receive any giveaways to offer I will post them asap.  These two beautiful little angels are counting on all of us.  Please help us in anyway you can.

 

 

 

Feng is still waiting for surgery and most likely will not receive it while in China.  We are praying that her paperwork is completed quickly so we can expedite the adoption process.

 

Suzanne

 

 



Preparing

I have made progress in my preparation for our girls.  Last Thursday, I paid for our home study and turned in all the paperwork.  We are now waiting on our social worker to contact us for our final visit.

 

On Wednesday evening we purchased a 12 passenger van.  We are now ready to bring our girls home from the airport!!!   Here is our van:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but it drives really nice!!  I am so happy I chose it.  There is plenty of leg room for all the kiddos and even some storage space in the back!

 

Suzanne

 

 

My Father

My father is one of the most loving men you will ever meet.  He has a wonderful personality and genuinely cares about everyone.  I have watched him and my mother accept everyone into their family.  From friends to spouses and step children.  All being treated as equals and treated the same from day one.  He served in the United States Air Force for 28 years as an air traffic controller.  Serving in Vietnam and being stationed all over the world.  After his time in the Air Force he started working as a civilian computer programmer for the Marine Corp Finance Support Center.  He suffered a stroke in 1994 that left him paralyzed on the right side.  It did slow him down a bit but never stopped him.  He traveled with my mom, took care of his mother during her last years.  He accepted my sweet Hannah, down syndrome and all, without a second  thought and did the very same for our sweet Clara, that we adopted from China.  He has more love in him than anyone would know, except those really close to him. 

 

 

 

He is currently 81 years old and has had a real decline in health in the last 3 months.  He got pneumonia at the end of January and spent some time in the VA hospital, before being transferred to a rehab. center.  He really didn't like being at the center so we agreed to bring him home.  This is where he wants to die.  Is in his own home, with his family and his dog, Molly.  While he was really sick in the hospital he kept telling us to let her know he loved her and we finally told him he had to do it himself.  Molly is the orneriest dog I know, she is always making my mother do something either by barking at her or trying to grab her clothing.  She attacks the TV whenever there is an animal or someone on there she thinks is going to get my parents.  I am really surprised she hasn't had a heart attack!!  She is about 10 pounds overweight and looks like a huge tick when she is groomed.  But despite all her "issues"  she loves him very much and stays very close to him.

 

For the last few days he has been telling us he was ready to die.  I will admit none of us are ready for this, but all know it is unrealistic to believe it will never happen and there is no "perfect" time to it.  I was visiting him on Friday and getting their shopping list when he started telling me that he was very tired.  He said he had been praying and asking God to take him in his sleep and soon.  He also asked me to pray this and why it hadn't happen yet.  I really didn't have an answer and simply said it must not be time and would he like to take to Pastor Pete.  He shocked me by quickly saying yes.  So, I kissed him and mom goodbye and went to shop.  His breathing was labored but his 02 sats were in the low to mid 90's, not tones of someone leaving this world very soon.  He was also very tense and uneasy.  He just wasn't himself.  There was just a very odd feeling in their house, almost uncomfortable, like someone was hiding in it just waiting for the right time to jump.

 

While at Sam's I called Pastor Pete and told him what was going on and that he was ready to see him.  Pastor Pete cleared his schedule and went right over to see him.  I finished my shopping and headed back to their house for delivery.  Pastor Pete was leaving and stop to talk to me.  He was teary and told me that he had a good talk with him and that he had asked him if he had ever excepted Christ into his life or if he had said the Sinners prayer.  To which my father said he was not sure if he had and proceeded to say the prayer with him.  I felt very humbled by this and joyous.   To know he finally has accepted Christ is such a wonderful feeling.  I never knew if he had or not, I just knew he believed and knew a lot about the Bible.  I just assumed he had done this.

 

I carried their items into the house and sat down to visit for a second.  My dad thanked me for sending Pete to him.  He was completely relaxed and at peace.  You could see it in his face and in his breathing.  The house had that warm fuzzy feeling again. 

 

Satan had lost and was out of their house!!!!!

 

Later that night he called my sister, brother and I over to his house so he could tell us goodbye.  He wanted to make sure we each knew he loved us and would be waiting in heaven for us.  He also told us he didn't want us to cry, but to know he had a wonderful, fulfilling life and was proud of each of us.  He said he wanted us to know, just in case the Lord took him home during the night.  He wanted no regrets.  So, I told him how much I loved him and would see him on the other side, that he better be waiting for me and he said he would.

 

The Lord didn't take him last night, which selfishly I am happy about.  I am okay though when He does.  Yes, I will cry but I know he is going to a much better place where his body will be healed and he will be free of all his troubles.  Please pray that my father will have a peaceful end to an amazing and wonder life, in God's perfect timing.  He is truly the greatest father in this world and I wouldn't change anything about him.  I love you daddy!!


Suzanne

It has been over a week since I wrote this post.  He is hanging in there and doing better.  The house is still peaceful and he continues to visit with Pastor Pete.

Revelations

Last night I was watching one of my favorite movies, Facing the Giants.  The first time I watched this movie was back in 2007.   I was hiding a very, very small secret and had been for about two weeks, from my husband.  One Saturday night we sat down as a family and watched for the very first time.  Half way through the movie I had come up with the perfect way to tell my husband my very, very small secret.  I decided that on Sunday morning I would make sure we sat in the pews next to this family with a 6 month old little girl that my husband loved talking and playing with.  The best part of my plan was that we were in church and he couldn’t kill me after I told him my secret.  The movie ended and we went to bed.  As I was getting ready he proceeded to tell me that he was playing worship in the morning.  My heart sunk, how was I safely going to tell him my secret????  I got in bed and he was going on and on about how wonderful God was and about all the miracles He performs.  I decided now was the time.  Before I could hand him my test and confess my secret he turned out the light.  I freaked out and yelled at him, I am not ready, turn that light back on.  As soon as he did I handed him the test and waited for his response.   His first comment was why do you have Sissy’s test?  I confessed that it wasn’t Sissy’s test and before I could finish my statement, he turned over in bed and said, with is face in the pillow, what are you doing to me God?????  He then turned to the wall and told me he needed some alone time and I trying to be funny said, “It’s a little late for that.”  About 6 months later our “bonus baby”, as we lovingly refer to him as, Aaron was born.

I have seen this movie so many times I can practically quote it.  I would turn it on every night while nursing Aaron and would fall asleep with it still playing.    Every time I am in need of a pick me up, I play this movie.  It has so many messages in it for me.  Last night was no exception.  I belong to a support group on Facebook.  I have been getting really upset that everyone is making forward movements in their adoptions, except me.  Each time I get an update something isn’t right.  It is almost like the right hand doesn’t have any idea what the left one is doing.  Last September we were told one of the girl’s files was ready and the other would be very soon.  I sent Lifeline to find the file, only to find out it wasn’t ready and had never even been started.  I was told they would be ready by the end of January, which they were not.  My last report now says they will be ready in June and August.  I don’t know who to believe.  The story I get depends on who I ask and at what time of the day I ask them.   I am getting very down about this whole process and worried that one of my princesses will not live to be held by her momma.   I have been asking everyone that knows the whole story, why it is so hard and why isn’t anything being done???  No one can answer these questions for me.

Midway through the movie Mr. Bridges enters Gants office and reads Revelations Chapter 3:   says “We serve a God that opens doors that no one can shut, and he shuts doors that no one can open.  “He says: ‘Behold, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.’  ‘I know you have a little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.’”  Coach Taylor, the Lord is not through with you yet.  You still have an open door here, and until the Lord moves you, you’re to bloom right where you’re planted.  I just felt led to come tell you that today.   Mr. Bridges leaves the room and Grant thinks about what he has just been told.  Coach Taylor gets up and goes after Mr. Bridges.  (Grant) Mr. Bridges.  Do you believe God told you to come tell me that?   (Mr. Bridges) I do.  (Grant) I admit to you I have been struggling.  But I’ve also been praying.  I just don’t see him at work here.  (Mr. Bridges) Grant, I heard a story about two farmers who desperately needed rain.  And both of them prayed for rain, but only one went out and prepared his fields to receive it.  Which one do you think trusted God to send the rain?  (Grant) The one who prepared his fields for it.  (Mr. Bridges) Which one are you?  God will send the rain when He’s ready.  You need to prepare your field to receive it.

WOW!!!!  What a slap in the face.  I haven’t completely prepared my fields.  There is still so much I can do to prepare for my daughters to come home.  Our house needs some remodeling done, I need to finish my home study, get I800A approval, raise about $6000.00 so I can send my dossier to China and be prepared  to receive their referrals and expedite the rest of the adoption.  I have been here feeling sorry for myself and I am the one holding up this process.  I can’t possible expect Him to prepare things if I am not prepared to receive them.  So instead of sitting here feeling sorry for myself I am going to work hard at preparing my fields.  I am not sure how or why I lost sight of this.  I often repeat this portion of the movie over and over in my head.  I know for a fact and I have told others that God is not going to just do everything for you; you have to make an effort.  Nothing worth wild is easy.  Becoming responsible for these two girl’s lives is not something to be taken lightly.  It is a great responsibility.  Not only do I have to feed and love these girls, I have to raise them to love our God and to live for Him.

Today is a new day and I will be busy preparing my fields for rain!!!!  I am going to be very busy, but in such a good way.  I ask that you pray for me as I prepare my fields.  I plan to have all my home study paperwork turned in by next Monday.  I will keep you up to date.  Please also pray for my little angels in China.  Pray the Lord continues to watch over them, keep them safe and healthy.

Trusting in the Lord,

Suzanne

If you haven’t seen Facing the Giants, you need to go and watch it today.  It will change your life!

PLEASE PRAY!!!!

I am begging everyone to please PRAY for our sweet angel.  Today, in fact right now in China, our sweet girl is having the open heart surgery that will hopefully keep her healthy enough for us to get to her and bring her to the US for surgery.

 

Please pray for Feng (on the right)!!!  This is her big day.

 

 

Thank you,

 

Suzanne