I just got home from going to the airport to see my friends the KEMP's come home w/their beautiful baby girl from China ... The have waited almost 3 years for this treasure ... They are forever changed and I was there to witness the new sparkle in their eyes, the new love they have as a family, and the depth of their understanding of how God loves us ... I am honored each time I go to the airport to witness the birth of a new family and they way that changes my heart.

BLESSINGS MY FRIENDS ...

What have we done all summer ?? Scott has worked 3 jobs, ran 2 camps, Elijah was on a swim team for 6 weeks, Jeremiah played 2 games a week and practiced, Maggie and Emily have destroyed the house on a daily basis, we played w/ many friends both old and new, Emily turned 4, we are preparing for Maggie's 3rd birthday party (her 1st party EVER ... Daleea - your tutu should be a hit), I have been working on THE BOOK, and have become an email encourager to some sweet new friends as they journey adoption, and all in all we have grown closer to the Lord during some trying moments ...BIG NEWS OF THE DAY - My van went to Honda Heaven ... This could not have been a worse time, but after a few very stressful days Scott (with the help of the Lord) negotiated an amazing deal on a 2003 TAHOE (that seats 8) ... Did you hear me ??? It seats 8 ... Not 7 like the van, but EIGHT (Joseph and Abagail ... Mommy knows exactly where you will sit when you come home from Ethiopia) .... Take a look at some fun pictures of our summer and as always thanks for going along on the ride w/ the OATSVALL TEAM ...


Jeremiah got the privilege to travel w/ a team from Georgia to play in the 9 and under National Basketball Tournament in Kentucky ... I hated to miss it, but we just couldn't all travel ... Scott called me w/ play by play of each game ... They made it all the way to the championship game and lost by 8 ... According to my hubby (who doesn't give compliments easily), he said Jeremiah played so well some games he could have sold SNEAKERS ... I am very proud of how Jeremiah is using the talents that God has given him ... He strives to honor the 3 H's we teach ... HUNGRY (for the game and competition), HUMBLE (because all talents come from the Lord), AND HOLY (we are always representing Christ) ...



Rainy day hair styling and modeling ... America's Next Top Model .. Watch out .. These 2 ROCK!


BLOGGERS IN TRAINING ... It may take sometime, but they are close to contacting the BLOG FAIRY ...


Just a couple of pictures from a few of our famous spend the night parties at Casa De Oatsvall ... We are definitely the party house ... Movies, Swimming, Xbox, Basketball, Hide and Seek in the house, and more food than I can afford ...lol



THESE ARE YOUR TWO FINALIST FOR GABRIELA IN "HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3" !! Can you hear them ... "Soaring, Flying, there's not a star in heaven that we can't reach, if we're trying and we're breakin free..." !


Elijah competed for the first time on a swim team this summer ... He finished 9th in the county in the freestyle and his relay team came in 1st ... This was quite a commitment. We had to be there at 8:30 every morning for 6 weeks ... I enjoyed seeing his smile at end of each meet !!! He brings great JOY to our life ... Now he is a red head, so I will leave it up to your imagination all the trouble he can get into .. lol


A fun night w/ Emily and Tanner ... Hanging out w/ this amazing couple makes us feel young ...

WELL THAT IS ALL FOR NOW ... Have a blessed week ...

I know you all love pictures and I promise to do a post w/ them soon, but over the last week I have done several posts, received a ton of emails, and spoken w/ some amazing people ... It felt great knowing that there are a bunch of CRAZY PEOPLE out there ... It has just confirmed what I already knew in my heart WE ARE NOT ALONE !!! God has woven us together for SUCH A TIME AS THIS ... We are our own community and even though we don't get to meet once a week, bring food, and do a bible study together ... WE ARE DOING CHURCH in a way that I think makes God proud of us ... We are supporting those fundraising by purchasing items, we are encouraging those waiting, we are praying for each other's needs and standing in the GAP, we are making friends and sharing our lives w/ strangers, we are THERE everyday via cyberspace SHOWING UP FOR EACH OTHER ... I have met some amazingly strong women in my community because of my blog that otherwise I would have never meet ... God is sending us to each other so we can make a difference in each other's lives and in the lives of those in need ... It doesn't matter whether your calling is adopting, intercessory pray, feeding the homeless, visiting those in prison, sharing a meal w/ a widow ... It is all important to God ... He calls us to care for the least of these ... I believe by us sharing our lives He has opened our eyes to those so special in His heart "THE LEAST OF THESE" and the blessings we receive far out weigh anything we do... This is one reason why I am so excited about THE BOOK ... I know sharing all our stories will change people ... It will call people to ACTION ... It will comfort people ... It will answer questions ... It will give a testimony of what God is doing in all of our lives ...

Have a blessed week knowing you are not alone !!!!


Side Note: I know I have posted a lot lately ... Please don't think I have extra time on my hands ...I have just let my house, laundry, and dishes completely pile up .. I am on VACATION FROM CLEANING ... LOL ... Try it ... It is fun for a few days !!!

Our friends have their sweet daughter and I have cried many tears today ...If God granted me only one wish today it would be for all my friends waiting to be in their country/state holding their sweet child ... I would not ask for money, peace, or big fat mansion ... I would ask that all children waiting for their mommy/daddy would miraculously be held for the first time w/ a love that knows no end ... I know this is sappy, but remember I AM CRAZY ... God you are so good to us ... Protect all the orphans of the world till they are HOME ....

As I sat in church today, I pondered the thought "AM I CRAZY?" (some of you out there might say yes, but humor me here ...lol) ... I feel like people look at my life and think I am, especially when they hear we are praying about going to Ethiopia and we are a one income teacher salary ... Today when the pastor talked about the church in Acts, the example was that the people brought all they had together and shared ... They were a community...No one better or w/ more than the other ... If there was a need they met it, they broke bread together, they fellowshipped together, and they worshiped together ... ALL THE TIME ...

So my thought was, don't we all need to be a little crazy, barbaric, looney, and wacky to ignore what the world says is important and real and follow the example of Christ ... I don't feel crazy, but perhaps to others I am because I don't worry about how we will pay for another adoption, I don't worry about paying for college, I don't worry about fitting in, I don't worry about having enough time for each of my children, I don't worry about how 6 kids will destroy my house and make my food bill astronomical ... I JUST DON'T WORRY .... I always think to myself when I stand before the FATHER one day, what would my excuse be for not adopting again MONEY, TIME, RESOURCES, or SELFISHNESS and it just confirms to me that I am on the right track praying for my angels in Ethiopia, for supporting and encouraging anyone who comes along and ask about adoption, or for writing THE BOOK. I have many faults and fail on a daily basis, but this is one area I feel God's calling clear and I want to answer and hear Him say to me one day, "WELL DONE THY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT."

One of my purposes here on earth is to share what God has done in my life through adoption, how it has changed my family, made my marriage stronger, made my kids live outside the box, and given me a heart for all the orphans of the world ...

SO JOIN ME IN BEING CRAZY WON'T YOU !!!!!

"A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.
God sets the solitary in families;
He brings out those who are bound into prosperity."
Psalm 68:5-6

Don't worry about tomorrow! This is not a suggestion, but a command. I divided time into days and nights, so that you have manageable portions of life to handle. My grace is sufficient for you, but its sufficiency is for only one day at a time. When you worry about the future, you heap day upon day of troubles onto your flimsy frame. You stagger under this heavy load, which I never intended you to carry.

Throw off this oppressive burden with one quick thrust of TRUST. Anxious thoughts meander about and crisscross in your brain, but trusting Me brings you directly into My Presence. As you thus affirm you faith, shackles of worry fall off instantly. Enjoy My Presence continually by trusting Me at all times.

Matt 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Sisters, isn't that the truth ... We have plenty to focus on today)

2 Cor 12:9 "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness,' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. "

The way we have been placed in each other's life is no mistake ... We have been sent to encourage one another and give godly counsel ... Thanks for always being there and keeping my head, heart, and eyes pointed to Christ ...

I am not one to say you have to read this or read that unless I really believe it ... I recommended "Jesus Calling" because it was a devotional book that changed my life ... It spoke the word of God to me each day ... It was a nugget of LIGHT to start each day and anchor to use through out my day ... I know many of you have been encouraged by it and use it daily ...

Well, I have another recommendation... This is not a devo book, but a book that has changed my perspective on people ... It is a true story written w/ such honesty, love, and transformation that you can just feel God smiling as the story unfolds ... I don't want to give anything away, but I just know many of you would enjoy reading it. You will cry for the hurt and injustices and rejoice when God's people rise up and love another they way we should all love each other ... It is a friendship story that rivals any I have ever heard !!!

On A Side Note:
We have had a very emotional week here at the Oatsvall house ... We have family that is in such pain and turmoil as they walk through a fire, we have heard from the Lord about a ministry that we have been praying about for the last few months, I had an amazing day w/ a blogger as she experienced a hard adoption day, and I had a meeting w/ some sweet anointed ladies that helped me grow the vision of THE BOOK ... I have no doubt that God has called me to walk through life as an ADOPTION ADVOCATE/FRIEND/ENCOURAGER/AND MUCH MORE ... I just want you to know that I do not take this lightly ... I appreciate all of you who email me and trust me to walk w/ you ... I feel blessed and honored to be that person ...

LOVE TO YOU ALL ...

Thanks to my sweet friend and travel mate Becky for my new makeover ... If you need a lift or just feel like a new look check out Becky and she will be glad to lift your spirits w/ a new look and you can help her bring home another sweet daughter from China.

I have had a great day ... I am thankful for so much ... Please continue to pray for the Chapman family ... I know you are ... Other prayers needed ...

1. Darren (his wife is ill w/ cancer)
2. Ivey's adoption to Haiti
3. Meron (newly home from Ethiopia and has pneumonia )
4. THE BOOK
5. Julia, who is in prison
6. All waiting adoptive families
7. Our extended family member (unspoken)
8. Nana's health
9. Temaru our COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL CHILD
10. My SIL, who is serving in the Navy in FL for the next 3 years while her family is in TN ...

I know there are so many more and I know you have your own list ... We will just band together to pray and be thankful we have a Father who hears us ALL !!!!

OK, so most of you have probably gathered by now that I am talker ... I was told by my 6th grade teacher that if she put my chair outside the classroom that I would still be talking, my mother used to say I would talk the head off strangers in the grocery store, and all those who have met me in person know I am not shy ... I will talk to anyone !!!!! I HAVE THE GIFT OF GAB (that is self proclaimed of course) ... I am going to give this tag a go ... I am suppose to sum up my life right now in just 6 words ....

broken-heart
rejuvenated-spirit
beautiful-sexy
loved-beyond-words
tired-physically
crazy-fun

Told ya it would be difficult, so if there are any teachers out there don't get me on the hyphens ... hee hee .... I feel blessed to have a Father, who understands all my emotions and loves me through them and teaches me more about Him when I bring all that I have emotionally to Him ...

Jesus Calling on July5th is sticking w/ me ..."I long to make your life a glorious adventure, but you must stop clinging to old ways." ... perhaps that should be my 6 words "GOD MAKES LIFE A GLORIOUS ADVENTURE !!!"

LOVE TO MY FABULOUS BLOGGER FAMILY (another 6 words ...)

You know the song that says, "Brokenness, Brokenness, is what I long for, Brokenness, Brokenness is what I need. Brokenness, Brokenness, is what you want from me... Take my life transform it, Take my mind conform it, take my heart and form it, to yours, to yours, oh Lord."

I have been thinking on this so much lately as I feel people all around me, in my family, in the blog world, in my home, in foreign countries, and the list of BROKENNESS goes on and on ... At times this can be so overwhelming and such a odd request to be BROKEN, but to be BROKEN and at the feet of Christ is where He loves us so well and so deeply ... My eyes have opened so much since seeing Maggie's 1st picture and researching the plight of the orphans around the world ... I pray daily for all those sweet angels ... I try to do my small part and yet it doesn't seem to make a dent and then I saw this scripture today on another blog and it was so encouraging to remember that Christ is with all these people BROKEN and in need ... He is with the orphans, the people in prison, the poor, the hurting and basically available to all of us ... We carry Him with us and we have to power to show Him to others ...

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ "

Thank You Lord, for your word that directs us, helps us along our journey, and carries us if needed !!! It is not by the worlds standards we live, but by your example ...

I have a sweet friend hurting today ... This family has received news that they will not be able to adopt two precious children they have been advocating for over a year to bring home unless God brings them a miracle... They have been visiting these precious angels and considered them part of their family. I ask you all to pray for them and pray God's will be done ...

Adoption is a journey that is hard to explain at times, hard to understand, and even harder to get your heart strings around ... I know as a community we can wrap our prayers around them as we do many others ... I appreciate how my blog family always stays on their knees ... I appreciate you more than you know ... As God says, "a strand of 3 cords is not easily broken" ... We will be those strands for one another ...

Love You All ...