GNO/ Girls Night Out W/ A Twist
I have been meaning to post this for a while ... A friend who is adopting asked a few friends of mine if we would host a Girls Night Out as a fundraiser for her adoption ... I was curious and said what do you mean ?? She explained that during the month of April she had 10 different friend that run in 10 different circles to host a GNO w/ each person attending donating $10, while the host (me and two others provided snacks and drinks) ... Can I just say FABULOUS IDEA ... We had a blast sitting around my table gabbing and raised $180.00 .. The goal is to raise a $1000 just by women getting together and doing what we love to do best eat, talk, and laugh ..


HIV
http://fullhousehandshearts.typepad.com/

You have to visit this site and go to April 22nd post. Erin is an amazing mother of 11 and she is so educated on children w/ HIV (since she has two precious children w/the condition) ... Please educate yourself and learn about this woman's heart and pray for all the children affected w/this who are waiting for families ...

PRAYER

I could go on and on with this list, but here are my highlights ... Family waiting to hear if they were chosen for domestic adoption, family came home w/ child that tested positive w/ HIV (unknown to them), Ivey family on their way to Haiti to serve and visit their precious children they are adopting, sweet couple whose child is sick in Ethiopia (for them to travel soon), My friend Em waiting on her paperwork to bring home 6 yr old and infant from Ethiopia, the many friends waiting for any news about their little ones, a friend who is just starting the process for the second time, my friend Tina's prison ministry (she is truly the hands and feet of Jesus), all those raising money for their adoptions, and my kids (Jeremiah, Elijah, Emily, and Maggie, especially surgery) and as always for my STRENGTH Joseph and my PEACE Abagail (you will be home one day) ...

LOVE YOU ALL (I know I say love you a lot, but why not when you feel it )

Sorry I didn't get them posted last night, but I have a sick one here (yes, Maggie) ... The airport was so surreal ... To see the face I have been in love w/ on the computer for so long ... Crystal looked great and I have a ton more pictures, but I will let Crystal post them ... I love you all for praying for my SIL ...

Blogger Family ... you have been amazing while my SIL has been in Malawi ... She has Savannah Hope's visa and will be traveling home Saturday ... She has been in Malawi 40 days ... How biblical is that ... God has been all over this trip, He has touched so many lives, He has opened up our hearts to His forgotten people, He has grown us all ... I love you all for praying, encouraging and checking in on my sweet sweet niece ... I want to say a special thank you to Mrs. Miller ... Mrs. Miller was the sweet lady that traveled w/ Crystal. They had never meet, Mrs. Miller paid her own way, she left her new husband, and so much more to help a stranger (my SIL) ... She has sacrificed so much and I want to say thank you !!!!!


Join me in praying for smooth flight home ...

P.S. We are up to 35 writers for the book ... I have had sweet bloggers post my book post on their blog and have gotten fabulous new writers and meeting new blog friends ... So please feel free to post my book on your blog ...

P.S.S. I haven't forgotten about the post I need to do on GNO (Girl's Night Out ... It is is fabulous adoption fundraiser .... easy $1000 made in month) ...

One question that has been on my mind since my internet interview was "do the boys feel left in the shadows now that the girls are here?" ... I think whether your child is biological, adopted or you have both as a parent you have to be in tune w/ your child and know their special love languages ... It is effort to be a parent and the blessings just flow ... So I don't feel the boys have ever been in the shadow, because we would never allow them to feel less than the treasures they are to us ... I will have to say that the first few months home w/ Emily and Maggie (especially Maggie) that I do focus a lot of time on the adapting process for the child, but I try to always be available and spend special time w/ each child ... Each one of my children are gifts from the Lord and He gave them each special talents and no talent more important than the other in our eyes ... I am very proud to say that my family and friends are excellent at loving all 4 of my children ... The boys have loved their sisters from the first moment we chose their names ... They even already pray for Abagail and Joseph each night at dinner ... We are family first ... Scott and I try to always have time set aside each week for just the kids to spend time together w/ no other friends or activities ... We want them to be friends, we want them to appreciate each other and we want them always to defend each other ... All that said, My JOY, My Elijah is the most creative, excited, little adventurer in our house ... He was super proud of his zoo he created at school and couldn't wait to put it up in his room ... I love how animated he is ... He makes me smile everyday and his eyes and smile will melt your heart ... Oh to the girls who come knocking at my door for him ... They will get a gem, a pure hearted soul .... I love you sweet angel ...

P.S. We had the most amazing time at GNO on Saturday and raised $180 for an adoptive friend ... It is the coolest way to raise money and so much fun, so stay tuned for details and pictures ...

P.S.S. My SIL will be getting ready for her Visa appointment w/in hours ... Please pray all goes smoothly and she gets to come home this Saturday ...

I think the thing that adoption has changed the most about me is the way I care for those I don't know .... I picture every hurting child as my own ... I was running while watching FREEDOM WRITERS today and bawling like a baby (not something I recommend by the way)... I saw those teenagers facing so many difficult things and I pictured my Jeremiah & Elijah there ... I read my SIL's post today and I see the faces of my children in Ethiopia ... I got an email from a blog friend today and there is a teenage girl in Texas, who just found out she has ovarian cancer (she just lost her mother recently to cancer) and I see Emily and Maggie ...

God has been so amazing to open my eyes to so much because of adoption ... I am thankful for the thoughts, the sleepless nights, the sadness, and the need to know more about the hurting children of the world ... It doesn't take a hero to make a difference ... It takes ordinary people doing what is right to change the world ... I think of Kimberly my blog buddy, who is raising money for surgeries for children in China after she just finished a clothing/supply drive for an orphanage ... I think of Verna (aka Blog Fairy) designing blogs and giving the money to families adopting and in need of more financial help ... I think of a special friend who is helping us out w/ all this insurance stuff for Maggie... I think of so many helping me to write this book so we can change peoples lives.

Please pray for this sweet girl in Texas, My SIL and all the waiting families and the orphans of the world ... There is strength in numbers ... Lord says where 2 or more are gathered in My name there He will be ...

Another person pitching in is my bro Jim Chapman ... I posted a while back about this beautiful gift he gave me w/ the China Angel watching over my girls till I got there ... Well I had some interest in the painting, so if you are interested in purchasing one you can contact Jim @ yochampan@aol.com . The paintings are $400 and Jim will donate $100 to Shoahannah's Hope Foundation ...

Have a fabulous week !!!

Last night I attended a funeral visitation of high school friend of mine. He was 38 years old and died way before his time ... He was such a big teddy bear in high school and just like a big brother to me ... He and his high school sweetheart, Brooke (a girlfriend of mine from high school) had finally made their way back to each other after 19 years apart and were getting married in June ... When I heard the news I just needed so badly to see Brooke and give her a hug. I hadn't seen Mark or Brooke in over 15 years, but the core friendship we had is strong ... I am from a small town (that isn't so small anymore) ... When I walked into the funeral home it was like a high school reunion ... People came from everywhere to pay their respects to his family, his children and to Brooke ... I was so happy to see so many familiar faces yet the circumstances had us all very sad and confused ... Mark left this earth way to early ... He was a joy to be around and a friend to all ...

It was odd to see all the faces and think back to high school ... I remember fondly my high school years ... It was obviously filled w/ lots of drama as all teen years are, but we were a really great group of people ... I am honored to be part of the Smyrna Bulldogs Class of 1988 !!!

I don't have any old pictures scanned, so I will save myself the humiliation of the big hair, blue eyeshadow, and pop up collars ....

Sweet Sweet Mark ... You will be missed and remembered always !!!

American Idol put me over the edge tonight ... The Annie Lennox Africa piece w/ the 15 year old brother caring for his 3 younger brothers had me crying so hard I almost couldn't catch my breathe ... And the Daughtry piece at the end was so moving ... All those precious faces !!!

My flesh has me packing a bag and hoping on a plane to pick up my babies that are there, but the Lord says it is not my time yet ... He knows Maggie has much healing to do plus her surgeries ... And the Lord gives me peace by showing me all of your wonderful stories ... He is showing me that everyday somewhere some family gets the call that their child is waiting ... So where it may seem helpless, it is anything but that ... IT IS HOPEFUL because the Lord is at the center of my family and I want what He wants when He wants it ...



Update on Maggie : We will be postponing Maggie's surgery till Sept 1st ... My husband has taken a new teaching/coaching position at a new school and the change in insurances has caused us to wait ... She will have a MRI in June where they will measure the whole in her head for the artificial bone ... Please begin to pray about this w/ me ... I am trying to imagine what this will be like and my mind finds it hard to understand what she will endure yet again ... But I do know she is a survivor and this time she will have her mama w/ her every minute !!! THANK YOU LORD.

Just a sweet word to my honey ... Our family would not be where it is today had you not resigned ... You pitched in big time and took care of Jeremiah, Elijah, and Emily while I concentrated on healing Maggie ... You are godly man w/ such an amazing heart for your family ... I can't thank you enough for always putting us first no matter what !!! You are part of the air I breathe and the other 1/2 of my heart ... LOVE YOU FOREVER AND LOVE YOU MORE EACH DAY !!!!

I appreciate all your prayers and encouragement to my SIL ... I am so excited to one day soon go to the airport and see my sweet niece ...

OK, I am calling all my friends to do something a little unconventional ... I need you to visit my SIL site on my sidebar and leave her a funny message or tell her about your favorite TV show, if you have seen her family tell her about that or even post a joke ...She received news today that her stay will probably be a bit longer. She needs a connection back to the United States ... She needs to laugh ... She is so appreciative of all the encouragement, but needs a little break in her mind and a good laugh ...

This is myself, Crystal and my other SIL, Yolanda ... We have know each other for 23 years ... We have fought, loved, cried, yelled, and danced together for many years ... Please take a moment and lift her up w/ a laugh ... And thank you Lord for all that you have done w/this journey and all you have taught us ...

How do I ever express my feelings for the woman who gave birth to my precious Emily. How do I say that I think of you often when her face smiles, her lips pucker, or she brushes her hair from her eyes. We have never met and probably will never meet, but I love you. I pray for you. I want you to know that your precious child that was laid on the doors steps of a governmental building is treasured. She is adored by her brothers and sister, loved by her mom and dad, and cherished by so many others. Emily brings light to my day and gives me the strength to see the good in everything. Her saucy attitude and outgoing personality are from me and her mesmerizing eyes and fearless nature I am sure come from you. I promise to always pray for you and to tell Emily one day the love I know you have for her. I can’t even imagine my life w/out this fabulous creature … She took my heart to a whole new level and allowed me the courage to change my life. Emily is already a missionary because when she looks into someone’s eyes they have to see God in her.

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing life when I know you could have chosen not to give birth …. I admire you for the strength I see in my child … I promise you that she will never be lonely and she will always feel loved. She will have us to cheer for her when life brings the good and the bad. I hope wherever you are that you have peace in your life and that some how God’s love has made it ways into your heart so that one day in heaven Emily and I may see you …

Happy Gotcha Day my precious precious daughter… You will forever be the one that brought the LIGHT to my life …

Gotcha Day 2008 - 3 years Home ... TO MY PINGJIANG FAMILY YOU KNOW HOW SPECIAL YOU ARE TO ME !!! YOU WILL FOREVER BE A PART OF OUR FAMILY !!

Happy Birthday to my very special nieces on this day also … Rayna (love you angel) and Amy (love you sweetie) !!!

I am going to be on ONTHEHOMESTRETCH.COM live on Sunday @ 10 AM talking about adoption ... Debbie Alan is local TV personality and just a super sweet woman ... I have been seeing her at the YMCA lately and of course you can't help but noticing my two Asian beauties running and screaming up/down the hallways when we go like they own the place ... She stopped me one day and asked me Maggie's story, so I shared and she asked me to share on her show about adoption ... Well you all know me ... When some says ADOPTION my ears perk up and I can talk for hours (well, I can talk for hours anyway) ... Let's pray that someone listening will feel the calling from the Lord to step out into FAITH and begin the adoption process ...

BOOK UPDATE .... story #2 has come in and I get amazed every time ... If you are just reading this for the first time I am putting together a book ... Scroll down to read the post or email me for details (s.oatsvall@comcast.net)

SIL UPDATE ... Just talked w/ MIL and SIL says Malawi won't process the visa till the American hard copy paperwork arrives, so we are looking at a travel home date of somewhere between April 17th ... Please continue to pray for her !!!!

Please click on link for my SIL on my sidebar ... Much prayer is needed ... There are no set rules for adoptions in Malawi and there have been many set backs ... Please pray them home because I have no doubt my niece will change people when they look into her eyes ...

SIDE NOTE : I received my first story for the book ... I can feel our family getting closer to our little ones in Ethiopia ...