So I had this brilliant idea to contact TLC (The Learning Channel) and submit a show idea ... You see I think my life is pretty colorful considering I spend a lot of time w/ my friend/soul sister Suzanne who has 6 kids ... We do the YMCA together, Walmart together, church, and just life in general ... We get the oddest looks from people, sympathy smiles (don't like those and would love to tell those people off), the ever famous "boy you have your hands full", are you a DayCare (you see we have 6 Caucasian children, 2 African American, and 2 Asian children between us), the BLESS YOUR HEART" looks, Are you done adopting?" (which we both answer NO to and they look at us like we have 6 heads), and pretty much the YOU ARE CRAZY PEOPLE ...

So I checked it out and you have to have a producer and the producer has to submit a short film on your behalf ... Any takers contact me ...

But in reality I think my life is pretty normal ... Today consisted of a dentist appointment, a Thankgiving program w/ Suzanne, workout at the YMCA w/ Katie, a trip to Target for new mechanical toothbrushes, picking up Jeremiah, dinner, and bedtime ... There were many humorous moments throughout the day and I just know we could brighten a few people's night w/ our crazy antics ...

And then I think about some of the other women in my life and how amazing their lives are ...



Carlee ... Carlee has been my best friend for 10 years ... She was at the birth of both Jeremiah, Elijah, and traveled w/ me to China to pick up Emily ... She now has her own amazing son. He is a warrior w/ a medical issue w/ his eye that has had them on an amazing faith journey and more surgeries in NY than I can count ... I admire Carlee as a mother, a woman, and Christ follower ...


Yolanda ... She is a mother of 6 ranging from college to 3 years old, she is a nurse that works nights, and the craziest husband I have ever met (You know I love you Jim) ... She inspires me w/ her strength and her determination to always do what is best for her family ... She was my rock while adopting Emily ... She was there at every turn ...


Anna ... This is one amazing junior in high school. I love her for many reasons, but mostly I love her because she is like my little sister. She loves my kids, she helps me so much, she is like a daughter to Scott, and we just don't know what our family would be like w/out her. We met her when she was a 5th grader and look at that beautiful face. I pray daily that God will keep her close when it is time for college ...


Katie ... I can't believe I only met Katie about 10 weeks ago. She is a fixture in my home and my heart. She has challenged me to be more. She shows me God in so many ways and I am thrilled to be a part of her life. I just know I will forever be in her life. I will watch her get married one day, I will be there when she has children, I will see her ministry forever flourish in Uganda. She is now part of my family and my heart ... (Suzanne and I are so glad we stalked her blog and made that phone call to you) !!!

There are many more woman who inspire me, get my life, and encourage me w/ their journey, but you get my point ... We really all have a life worth watching and we are watched by many ... What are people seeing from us ... I pray people see my heart for the orphans, the passion for adoption, the love of my family, my faith in Christ, my compassion for those around me, and lots of stuff to laugh about ...

The Title for My Reality Show would be ... ORGANIZED CHAOS "Many Families, One Heart" ...

Blessings to you this Thanksgiving week ... Remember to be thankful in all things !!!!!!!!!!!!

Emily Chapman (now Richards) wrote a story for the Shaohannah's Hope publication a while back that talked about how Nehemiah took on the restoration project of rebuilding the wall in his home city of Jerusalem. Now he could have stayed in his life of privilege and done nothing, but he acted and he did not act alone ... The idea of restoration came w/ everyone doing their part to lay a brick. If one person doesn't do their part then how can another come behind them ... I have been challenging myself lately to ask the Lord what bricks should I lay, who can I encourage as they are searching for their brick to lay, and how can I inspire others to want to rebuild ...

This past week has been so God filled that there is no way I can put into words the anointing that God has allowed me to witness ... I am simply going to make a list and very humbly ask that you realize that words can not contain the power of the Lord and the things I have seen, heard, and wept over these past few days ...

1. By Friday Katie's Ministry had $10,000 in donations that had come in and Suzanne, Tara, and I have been working on another fundraising dessert for this Tuesday TO LAY A BRICK on the wall... God will provide for this ministry because He CAN ...
2. Shaohannah's Hope dinner was Saturday. "Maria's Big House of Hope" was revealed AND MANY BRICKS WERE LAID. This house will bring HOPE to those no one else will help, have a surgical wing, long term care facility for orphans and more ... IT WILL BE A MODEL OF HOW THE ORPHANS OF CHINA deserve to be treated ... I know sweet Maria will be looking over this house and smiling down on all these children ... SCC sang praise and worship as we lifted our hands to the Father surrendering to His will for our lives , MB poured out her heart and soul to us in a way that I will not attempt to describe except to say it was the most powerful spoken words I have ever heard in my life and SHE LAID MANY FOUNDATIONAL BRICKS to the wall, Chuck Colson spoke, and we all felt God's presence and we felt His heartbeat a little louder on this night ...
3. We had adoption Sunday at church today and as our pastor got up and cried out to the Lord for His HELP I felt paralyzed to move ... I knew I needed God's help today ... I needed God to continue to move me to action, I needed God to help me keep the burden for the orphans at the front of my heart, I knew I needed God to help me lead my children and submit to Scott, I knew I needed the Holy Spirit to take over and then Pastor Chris spoke on the Spirit of Adoption (3 types .. Spiritual Adoption, Family Adoption, Legal Adoption) ... this was followed by my friend Suzanne presenting our new adoption ministry and letting Katie share about her ministry in Uganda ... Katie stirred hearts today as God moved through her as she shared the story of an orphan in Uganda ... We had a bucket to collect change for Katie's Ministry and the change added up to be around $5800 (you heard that right) ... Our Strong Tower Family LAID BRICKS TODAY !!!
6. My brother-law was baptized today and many people saw THE BRICKS THEY HAD LAID in his life take flight for the Father today ...
5. A sweet friend from church invited me to go see The Secret Life of Bees and I wept (didn't think there could be anymore tears left, but they flowed) ... This movie has a great story, many parallels, and true symbolism along w/ a sweet story of LOVE .. I am sure it will cause someone to LAY A BRICK ...

I am honored to be a BRICK LAYER ... I know many of you are helping to build the WALL that will take the 151 million orphans of the world and show them HOPE, LOVE, and the power of Christ ... I am currently working on ABIGAIL AND JOSEPH'S BRICKS ... The Father is stirring the mortar as I type ...

Love and Blessings To You All This Week ...

Me, Katie, and Suzanne ...


When women for the Lord get together you better watch out ... Our hubby's were there, but we didn't let them in the picture !!!!!


I have blogged several times about my newest sister "Katie" ... She is the most amazing 20 year old I have ever meet ... To read about her journey in Uganda and see the faces of the children she loves please stop by her blog KISSESFROMKATIE.BLOGSPOT.COM

My friend Suzanne and I believe so much in her ministry that we have organized a couple of dessert/coffee nights for Katie to come and share her heart and story for the children in Uganda ... She is only 20, but the Lord is using her in the most mighty of ways ... She has started Amazima Ministries, which helps children receive schooling, medical attention, and 2 hot meals a day for only $300 a year (She currently has 150 kids in her program) ... She will be going back to Uganda in January and we are trying to raise at least $15,000 before she goes .. TONIGHT WE RAISED $6400 (update as of 9:00 am $6700 UPDATE AS OF THURSDAY NIGHT $7000) !!!! Can I get a witness to the power of the Lord ... The Oatsvall Team will be walking this journey w/ Katie as long as God has her journey ... She has sung to my soul and I want to see, hear, and touch her life in a real way ... I see Jesus in her!

Please consider sponsoring a child or making any kind of donation to this amazing ministry!!

Maggie's Gotcha Day Video 2007 (click here to see the amazing first few days w/ Maggie)

First, I have to say thank you to all who have journeyed w/ me this last year ... You sent my kids presents during those tough months, you prayed for us, you encouraged me, and most of all you loved Maggie !!! Please continue to journey with us this next year as Maggie begins skull replacement surgery and her scalp extenions ...

How the Oatsvall's are hanging ??
The day Maggie walked into that room frightened and confused was the moment God transformed my heart for HIM ... This has been the most difficult and most blessed year we have ever had as a family ... This year has brought more changes in our life than we ever expected and placed us right in the center of God's will ... We are so ever thankful for the Father's provisions during this time and for His faithfulness to love us unconditionally ...

To My Hope ... My Mags
Your spirit is one of strength and survivorship ... Your smile brings us so much joy and the way you love us is so pure ... I am so proud of you for learning to love and risking your heart on us ... You have had many challenges in life and have come through them all ... I know there is more to come w/ surgery, but this time there will be a Daddy, Mommy, two brothers, and a sister to walk through the trial with you ... You will never be alone again ... The heavenly Father has placed you with us so that we could all BE STRONG together ... I love you my sweet angel girl ... When you look at me and tell me "LUFFA You Mommy," I almost can't breathe because it is as if God is speaking directly to my soul ...

And lastly to all those who financially gave to help us bring Maggie home ... There really is no words to describe how thankful we are that you heard the Father's call and answered ... She could not have come home w/ out your help !!!

TO SEE HOW MIGHTY GOD'S HAND IS READ YOUR JESUS CALLING NOV. 8TH AND THINK BACK 1 YEAR FOR ME ... I WAS DROWNING IN EMOTIONS AND HE HEARD MY CRY AND SPOKE TO ME THROUGH THIS DEVOTION !!!

Praises to the Father for this day !!!!!!!!!

Many of you followed my sweet friend Emily Alexander while in Ethiopia to bring home sweet angel Abe ... Her post today brings so many tears and emotion ... You see they have now discovered that Abe had strokes in his birth mother's womb which has resulted in brain damage ... I am not sure words can describe all they are feeling, so please stop by their blog and read Emily's latest post ... It challenged me as a follower of Christ, it encouraged my walk, it made me fall to my knees for this amazing family, and brought me closer to the Father ... Please pray for them all !!!

Dearest Emily, I have told you many times over the past couple of weeks that you will not journey alone ... I love you so much and will be honored to be one of your prayer warriors ...