Our God is SO BIG...

Yesterday, I got a call from a sweet girl I met in April over spring break in Mississippi..Charles and his best friend from high school, Tommy, went to Paris (I didn't go because Alice wasn't quite ready for me to be gone for 10 days) and I decided to take the kids to visit Julie and her crew. So, we all went to church on Sunday and after the service, the sweetest girl, Demetria Raper, came up to me and asked if they could meet Alice...she said that they were thinking about adoption, but her husband wasn't quite on board just yet...we left that day and I have talked to her a few times since then about things....then, yesterday, I got a call from her...she told me that she was cleaning out some stuff and came across this note that she and her husband, Kevin, had written back and forth on that Sunday during church.

She said that after they met Alice that day at church, they went home and that night Kevin said he was ready to 'take the plunge'...so, my ALICE is part of the many things and children that God used to lead them to the path of adoption. Our God is SO BIG-He knew before time began that my Alice would be a part of their story...what an honor that she would share that with me and take time out of her day to do so..it blessed me so much and brought on the tears!! Check out Demetria's Blog as they start their journey to China to bring their daughter, Lane, home!!!! They are a precious family and God is already showing out as they raise money for their adoption expenses.

Speaking of adoption expenses, they are selling tshirts, too and you can go to this site, order a shirt and they will receive $10 for every shirt sold. Just enter the code RAPER0518 at checkout AND in the COMMENT BOX so that they receive credit. I got the black "Love Others" shirt below and it is fabulous. They also have many others to choose from, so check it out...


I have worn mine at least a dozen times already...those of you that see me on a regular basis know that I am being literal...I rarely go anywhere WITHOUT wearing something to spread awareness of the orphan crisis and God's mandate to care for the poor, orphan and widowed. I just hate to waste an opportunity!!! You just never know if a shirt may spark interest and flip on that light bulb in someone's head...then, if they look into it further and their eyes are opened, another child could be brought home or another person in need, helped...that is my fAsHioN gAmePlaN to 'defend the orphan'---use every opportunity I can!!!!!

Demetria and I got to talk for quite a while and our conversation brought up many wonderful memories of the AMAZING GOD MOMENTS along our journey....some of which I have never even shared here, so I am planning on doing that soon...I am going to do a post about (in no particular order):

1. What made us decide to adopt in the first place
2. How we knew SHE was our daughter
3. Some thoughts on the need: cleft lip and palate
4. The meaning of Alice's Chinese name

These are all posts that I have been meaning to write about for quite a while, so maybe since I have put it out there and committed myself, I will be more accountable to actually DO it!!! So, stay tuned and again, THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEMETRIA!!!!

this morning

As I woke up this morning, I stretched out in my soft and cozy bed, ran my hands over the smooth, cool sheets, smiled to myself and thought..."this feels so good! man, I love my bed!" As soon as that thought ran through my mind, on its heels was another...my heart was pierced with thoughts of children. Children on the other side of the world...who, as I was waking up surrounded by my comfort, were entering into their nighttime, their nightmare. On hard boards for a bed and no bedtime routine comforts from a mommy and daddy...my heart hurts for them. I think of Alice and our past months...what sheer joy it has been to see her blossom into the beautiful little girl that she is and I cannot imagine our home without her in it. When I reread the header on my blog, it makes me chuckle....I remember writing it and the feelings I had at that time come back like a flood....God would want US to do THAT!? I truly felt like we were taking such a HUGE risk...it is humorous looking back. He has worked out every detail above and beyond anything I could have comprehended. Why does it seem so daunting...to get out of our comfort zones???Why don't we trust our God and DIVE IN HEAD FIRST??? Hasn't He proven himself over and over and over again. Why do we close our eyes and ears and pretend that what we have going on in our life is all that matters? Are we truly oblivious or are we just hoping and praying someone else will do it? Maybe if we don't think about it, God won't call us to do anything too hard?? WHAT IS GOD OPENING YOUR EYES TO? Don't be afraid to look...He is FAITHFUL and will equip you to do whatever it is He is asking you to do!!!

James 1:22...Don't just hear the word, DO what it says...


I thank God for the journey he has brought us on so far....not one I would have ever dreamed of, but look what we would have missed out on:

Happy Father's Day 2011

Here was our best attempt at a father's day picture...they were all so silly!!!

so, we decided to do a girls shot...

and a boys shot...

then, Charlie took one of us...right before we ate and then all slept the entire afternoon...it was great! Then, a little swimming before dinner...so nice! Thank you, Charles, for all you do for us and for the way you love our kids....you are a good man and a wonderful daddy...they are so blessed to have your love:)

and yes, Max refused to wear pink because he hates pink...so Charlie, Max and Lucy are coordinating and Max is being Max...:) wouldn't have him any other way!!!

Also, thinking of my sweet dad today....I sure do miss him and wish I could hug and kiss him just one more time....only in my dreams...what a wonderful daddy he was!

A Busy Week

First, I have to post this precious picture I took the other night...We were staying at the river (where the kids all sleep in one room) and I had put them in their beds and they were separated. When I went in to check on them, this is what I found...SO precious...they sure do love each other...

This week was a busy week...Max, Lucy and Alice all had swimming lessons every morning at 2 different times and Charlie had baseball practice every day....Max had a fun time with his buddies...

At the end of every lesson, they got to jump off the diving board and of course, Max flipped everyday and scared me to death...

I was worried about Alice at first...wasn't sure how she would do in the swim class, but after the first 5 minutes, I realized she was going to be just fine:)

She LOVED jumping off the diving board so much...and she loved Mrs Young...

and last, but not least, my little fish, Lucy....

I love summer!!!!!

Memorial Day

Just stumbled upon this 'draft' for Memorial Day that i never posted....oh well, better late than never..think I am going to skip the captions and call it DONE!