I want to first thank everyone for their support, encouragement, and kind words last week for my friend Emily Alexander and for myself ... We started the Abigail/Joseph fund in our house and it was a great feeling to make those small steps toward our children ...

Prayers for : Putty Family (in Ethiopia right now getting their 4 year old son), Maggie's consultation for surgery will be in November, Emily Chapman's Wedding and their family, April waiting for news to travel to Guatemala for her sweet M, those waiting on referrals, and so much more !!!!

So here is WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING ...

Never a day w/out dressing up ... These girls love to be the princesses that they are and needless to say we get lots of stares as we go out and about in our princess attire ...



My boys head off to school together ... I love that they are in the same school .... It makes me feel safe to have them together and looking out for each other ...
FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL ... This is our 1st season to play pad football and both boys are loving it and it is kicking my booty ... We practice 3 times a week. They go back to back practices, so the girls and I are at the fields from 4:30 - 7:30 since Scott is working evenings the girls have to tag along ... Of course they are troopers and I have packed as if we are going on a camping trip w/ water bottles, toys, blankets, bug spray, chairs, and snacks. I love cheering my young men on and I am so proud of how they handle themselves on the field ... HUNGRY, HOLY, AND HUMBLE is what we teach them about sports ...


Brother/Sister love ... There are days of course when they are pulling each other's hair out and screaming at the top of their lungs tattle tailing on one another, but there are those moments when they just adore each other, they laugh at the top of their lungs and play together for hours ... I do cherish those moments and pray they will always hold on to each other as they grow up ...

If you have the time to add another blog to your reading list I have one I recommend so highly ... This is especially good if you have a teenager ... This young lady's blog about her time in Uganda has changed the way I see my day, it has made me pray more for the sweet children in our world who have real need, and reminds me how important is for us to just love each other.

KISSESFROMKATIE.BLOGSPOT.COM (you will have to read from the beginning to capture her spirit and faithfulness to the Lord )

Emily A. has a new video up and the faces I saw just called out to me ... They weren't sad, but amazingly joyful and at peace ... THAT IS ONLY THE LOVE OF THE FATHER ...

I have decided to put my money where my blog is ... I am going to journal what I spend for a month and do my best to begin spending as if it were actually God's money (which we know it all is) ... The vision is clear ... The Oatsvall family will be going to bring home Abagail and Joseph sometime in the year 2010 ... I won't go empty handed either ... I want to make this a humanitarian trip ....

We want to be a wise steward of what God has given us and We want to teach our children to look outside their life at those hurting and want to help ... Scott has done an amazing job at providing for this family and at times that has been rough ... He is amazing in many ways, but most importantly he has always been thankful for how God has always met our needs ...

Love to you all ... THE BOOK is going well and I hope to have it ready by the beginning of December ... I know it will make a great Christmas gift for many ... What better way to tell the story of Christ than to read the stories of how His children came home !!!!

Emily's Gotcha Day Video is up (go check out to brighten your day) !!!! I am over joyed for this family ... Abe is with his forever family and these pictures speak volumes for what adoption can do to change our world, our hearts, our families, our communities, and our walk w/the Lord ... Praising the Father !!!! Doing the happy dance for my sweet friends ...

The first time I ever meet Emily (far left)was the night before I left to go to China to pick up Maggie ... We sat on Suzanne's bed w/ a couple more sweet friends and we prayed for my trip... I instantly felt connected to this woman ... We had been emailing and blogging for a few months prior and I knew our hearts were similar, but the moment we saw each other and hugged I knew God had sent me a sister to walk through the trenches w/ and a friend to enjoy the rainbow moments ...

Emily and her sweet family have left to go to Ethiopia to pick up their sweet son Abe ... Please check out their journey and pray for them ... I have asked her to just bring Abigail and Joseph home and she promised to try ... lol


THE BOOK (side note) ... A few writer emails have come back to me as incorrect ... If you have not received an email from me in the last week please email your correct email address (the editing will begin next week) ... One step closer to my babies in Ethiopia ...

I have been debating all week on how I wanted to post this topic ... I hope everyone out there knows I would never try to offend anyone, but I feel like I must share my heart when it comes the topic of the "Lip Sync" little girl from China during opening ceremonies ...

I will start by saying I am always going to be thankful for the country of China and the amazing women, who gave birth to my beautiful daughters. I can not respect some aspects of the culture, to say that the little girl, who actually sang the song was not presentable enough to represent the country of China just breaks my heart. As most of you know I had two completely different experiences in China when picking up my daughters. When getting sweet precious Emily, people could not stop talking about how lucky she was, how cute she was, and always smiling at me and telling me thank you. During my trip to pick up angel girl Maggie, no one would look at me, people side stepped us, people gasped at her head in disgust, and I believe a couple of Chinese grandmothers cursed while they shook their fingers at me. I will be honest to say it took all I had not to stomp on some heads during this trip. It was very clear to me why Maggie didn't look adults or really anyone in the eyes. Why would she when she was never greeted w/ smiles, love, or valued as a child ... I can only imagine (and I really try not to) what she endured from others in her treatment because of her burn/skull injury ... And yes, I did meet some very compassionate and kind Chinese people on both trips, but as a culture their need for perfection is scary ...

My challenge for all of us is to look at children whether disabled, disfigured, different, hurting, etc. in the eyes and tell them how special, handsome, beautiful, talented, and precious they are ... Let them know God values each and every one of them for they are all "Fearfully and Wonderfully made." It is the heart of a child that makes them precious ... ALL CHILDREN are gifts from the Lord ...

Thank you for journeying w/me always ... Thanks to so many of you who are praying for my sweet Maggie ... She has touched many hearts and continues to grow mine.... She still has much to endure, but will not do it alone ...

Can I just say that friends and family truly spoiled our girl ... She got so much stuff and watching her open it after everyone left was a moment I will never forget ... Every time we brought her another package she "gasped" as if she couldn't believe this was all from her ... It made my heart sing ... You know how after birthdays or Christmas we say our kids got to much or we went over the top ... Well, this was not one of those times ... She did get a lot, but I felt like she totally deserved it ... It was her first birthday party and she adored every minute ... Thank you all (P.S. she is currently sleeping in this outfit ... )


These are some of Maggie's Peeps ...




Pre-party Picture ... The Oatsvall Team feels like a Champsionship Team on this Day !!!



To The Mother Across The Ocean ... I just pray that in some little way you can feel that the child you gave birth to is treasured beyond words ... She will be loved, cherished, and cared for forever ... She has changed our lives so much and we will forever be thankful you choose life and that God allowed us to be the parents of this amazing little girl ...

Maggie Tara Chang Oatsvall .... Our HOPE !!! Happy Birthday Sweet Girl !!!


Day After Gotcha Day In China ... So glad we could put a smile on this face !!! Love U !!!


I am not even sure I will have the words tomorrow when I wake-up ... I have been thinking of my sweet Angel all week as we prepare for her very 1st birthday party as she turns 3 ... Scott and I have talked much lately (due to surrounding circumstances) about each of our children and how special they each are, how it is a privilege to tuck them into bed each night and pray for them, how they each bring w/ them a certain smile and hug each day ... Maggie has made amazing strides over the past few months ... She is in love w/ her family and feels the safety in being an Oatsvall ...

I can not go back and imagine what she has been through in her early years, but I do know that it formed part of who she is ... She is a survivor and her strength will serve her well ... When it is a rough day because of her strong-willed-spirit or trust issues, then I stop and thank the Lord, because without this strength she might not have survived in China ... She is a glue that binds us together ... She has showed us a deeper faith in the Lord ... She has brought us closer together as a family ... She has made us stronger in ever area of our life ... She has focused our lives on what God wants from us and not the world ... She is our HOPE!!!

I can't not even begin to describe how you all ministered to me while I was in China and the first few months home ... You were a anchor as I was drifting about being tossed day to day .... As each new morning came God gave us the grace and strength ... Those days are so fresh in my mind and I can't believe how far my girl has come ... Her English is so doing so well, she is beginning to trust others outside the family, she is playing better w/others, she has learned to swim, she is just one AMAZING LITTLE GIRL !!!

My dearest Maggie, you are worth every day I waited for you and so much more ... Your smile and giggle wash away so much stress and worry in my life ... You are your daddy's "Messy Maggie" !!! When I see the two of you doing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" I know that you feel safe and loved ... I know you feel at HOME !!!

We love every part of you and we are thankful you are our daughter !!!!

If you missed the Chapman Family's interview this morning please go back and check it out ... You can see how this sweet family is walking a faith journey and doing their best to heal each day ...

Good Morning America (Aug. 6th Episode)

They will be on Larry King Live Thursday night ...

As I know you are please continue to pray for this family .... Standing in the gap for each other never fails to strengthen us and keeps us focused on things of the Lord ...

Love You All ...