Maggie's fever has been high all day, so they did a blood culture to make sure her blood does not have bacteria in it, but a couple of hours ago it broke and I am praising the FATHER ... Her IV came out and they had to put in a new one (NO FUN), but then I sit here and thank the FATHER that there is a doctor, an IV, and a hospital to do this ... We are still not sleeping, but this of course is not my choice ... hee hee ...

Sweet friends have stopped by today w/AMAZING CUPCAKES, Mexican lunch, chips, toys, drinks, fresh clothes and lots of love and conversation... Your comments have been so UPLIFTING.... I am going to ask that you keep the scriptures coming ... Reading them helps me stay focused and thankful...

For all who have texted and called ... I love you all, but Maggie doesn't like me on the phone ... hee hee ... CAN YOU SAY CLINGY ??? Just another thing to be thankful for ...

I am exhausted, but know the mind is a powerful thing, so I have a choice to make ... be stressed, depressed, and broken or weary, filled w/ joy, and the power of the spirit ... I am going to choose the later, because it is my nature ... God is speaking many thing to me right now ... peace, thankfulness, and truth !!! He is my FATHER and He will sustain me ... We are having some struggles here that resemble her behavior when we first came home ... She is scared, the meds are messing w/ her little mind, and she wants to go home ... Here is the difference (as you all know) My mom's heart has grown so much over this past year w/ Maggie ... She has taught me a lot about the Father ... He is my rock and my fortress !!! I will abide in His shelter ... Please continue to pray ... Maggie has a high tempature right now, which is to be expected and she is really wanting to go home, which for most children is normal and no big deal, but I think of how long it took her to love home, love me, love daddy, love Jeremiah, love Elijah, and love Emily that when she cries to go home I REJOICE ...

Off to watch High School Muscial 3 (thanks D) for the 4th time tonight ... Oh, did I mention that all meds have the opposite effect on my ANGEL .... No Sleeping ... plus our hospital bed is possessed ... It just moves w/ no one pushing buttons !!!!! Just a little way God keeps things light and us laughing in the midst of the pain ...

It is 5:42 and my baby has just gone back for surgery ... I am exhausted and the emotions are getting the best of me right now ... I always think a good cry cleanses the soul, so I am going to take a moment and cleanse .... Maggie has been a trooper today ... She has been begging for a pink Popsicle for the last 3 hours, but did tell her Nana on the phone about 12:00 that she was at a party (waiting room was full of people) !!!

Please continue the prayers ... They give us more strength than you know ... The doctor wants to keep us a couple of days to make sure all the infection is gone ... They will be removing the tissue expanders and we will have to let her scalp heal for a few months before they start this whole process again ... That overwhelms me right now, so I will just stay in today w/ the Lord ...

Emily here. I just heard from Gwen and I am asking all of those that love this precious family to please pray.  Maggie's head was infected, and they have scheduled surgery for later today. Though this isn't the answer we all hoped for, they rest in Him.  Gwen's faith and strength simply inspire me!

My mind is beyond doing flips and dizzy cartwheels right now ... I haven't slept the last two night for thinking about Maggie and Joseph ...

My daughter doesn't deserve to have this surgery re-done and I am honestly sick to my stomach for her, so I had a talk with God last night for a while and begged for a miracle ... Now I know my God can do this in the blink of an eye, but if He chooses not to, then He no less the healer, the friend, the Father, or no less My Savior ... I will just know we has a different path FOR US to take ... I snuggled with both my girls last night in bed for a while looking at their dark hair and almond shaped eyes and thought what a blessed woman I am to have these two amazing girls as my daughters ... I had 3 extra boys spending the night last night and I heard them all running around playing and I thought Lord thank you for this home and my son's and their friend's who can come and play ... My house is always ALIVE ... I love opening my home, God's home ...

This leads me to Joseph ... We have requested the medical files on this precious angel ... I know what I can handle with the Lord's strength and I want God to speak clearly on if this is my son or not ... Here is the thoughts that will cross a lot of minds ... I know because one of my sweet sisters has already expressed this to me and this is one reason why I love her ... She shoots straight ... ??? Should we even consider this child with Maggie needing to have her surgery re-done ???? Honestly, at this point I don't have the answer ... I know she needs me and I also know God doesn't call us to a perfect schedule or an easy path .... So over the next couple of weeks we will pray here and will pray for clarity, for peace, for guidance ...

Did I mention we are over 1/2 way to our adoption goal !!!!!!!!! Thanks to all who came or donated at the gold party ($2300 ... what a blessing) ... Thanks to Kristi and Holly for making food (they are some fabulous Martha Stewarts), Mary Pat (this is Katie's mom and she is a jewel in my life) for coming early to help set up and for all my other sisters (Suzanne, Kelly, Yolanda, Retta, Stacy, Ondrea, Arlena, Katie Jo) for coming and ALWAYS ALWAYS SUPPORTING ME ...

ONE OTHER BIG BLESSING OF THAT NIGHT ... I am standing in my living room and out of the corner of my eye I spy Linda (my 2nd interim care Angle's mom) and I rush over because you know I am dying to see if she has Elly !!! She does and my heart just leaped ... Thank you Lord for this moment ... I held Elly and looked into those beautiful eyes !!! She is the just beautiful, happy, and so big now !!!! My girls were climbing on me like a jungle gym trying to get to her ... What a blessed moment and I felt so honored they drove 50 minutes to come support my gold party and bring Elly so I could hold her and give her some LOVE !!! This is one special family to us !!!

The day started off with a speaking engagement to a group of middle school students at my hubby's fabulous school (FRA) ... They were very receptive and I pray I planted some seeds that God will take and grow into amazing service for Him ...

I have cleaned, cleaned, cleaned ... A trip to target in my cool "Orphan Awareness" shirt w/ my Uganda necklaces caused a few new conversations and me handing out my card ... I love how God brings people to you ... And even though the girls where running around me in a circle and screaming for icees God still used me ...

Off to begin organizing the house for the Cindy (GOLD LADY) to set up ... Do you know how excited I am ... I have watched God over and over the past 3 months open up the flood gates of heaven for our adoption ... I get excited each day when I go to the mail box because there is always a chance that there is check in it for our adoption, I love answering the phone and hearing how someone else has shared our story and lead someone else to partner with us, and I love watching people's faces light up when I tell them about Joseph and Abigail ... Lord you have richly blessed the Oatsvall Family !!!

STAY TUNED FOR MORE ON THIS SAME POST !!! P.S. Necklaces are going FAST !!

3:15 ... Off to pick up boys from school .. have sold 10 shirts and 3 necklaces today just while getting ready for the party !!! GOT A CALL FROM AMANI TOO (BUT THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER POST ) ... don't you like how I keep you on the edge of your seat !!! hee hee

Guest post...Grace here...there's so much to take in..there's a gold table behind me with four professional "gold sorter people" sitting sorting all sorts of gold...one person has already gone home with $300, another with $700, and 14 necklaces are left out of 80!!! Gwen is running around trying to keep things in order..there are 10-15 kids running around with balloons down stairs (about 4 or 5 have been popped all ready). But upstairs, everyone is just hangin' out, eating and chatting, and picking out shirts and necklaces...the shirts and necklaces are just as popular as exchanging the gold!! (if you haven't gotten yourself a shirt or necklace yet, they are SOOOOOOO cute!!! go to www.shopoatsvallvillage.blogspot.com to see all the great things being sold to raise money to bring Abigail and Jospeph home!!! (Mallory and I both have the blue and red short sleeve t shirt, the first white long sleeve, and the Ugandan necklaces, but we brought ours home from our trip to Uganda last week... out blog is www.joiningthejourney.blogspot.com ...there's a button on the sidebar!!) Well, people just keep arriving..gotta go help out and occupy some little kiddos...stay posted to hear from Mallory later!

Grace


Guest post... Mallory here... Most of the kids have left so I am trying to sit down real fast and post although Emily keeps jumping in and out of my lap. People are still in and out and the gold sorteres are begining to pack up. I think many people have walked out with alot of money! Necklaces are also flying out the door!!! Its gone from 14 to 7 necklaces!! The shirts are still being sold and gwen "owes" many people some because there are not enough sizes! She even has her white board set up that says all the prices. She says she has set up her own little shop... but of course with kids in the house the white board has been drawn on by several little kids!! haha.

More later,
Mallory

Gwen here ... Everyone has left (except Grace/Mallory ... they are spending the night because they are the coolest 13 and 14 yr olds EVER !!! ) ... DRUM ROLE PLEASE .....

Total taken in today including my gold, my profits from party, and all sold items ... $2360 !!!! Can you see my best funky girl HAPPY DANCE ??? Can you hear my best Kirk Franklin voice "DO YOU WANT A REVOLUTION" ???

God you are amazing ... Thanks to everyone who came, donated to our adoption and just showed up to give support, love, and encouragement !!!

I have two pieces of news ... brace yourself, because we are in need of some major PRAYER ... Maggie's nurse called and they have booked her an OR for Monday to possibly remove the tissue expander ... We will see the doctor at 8 am, but she is pretty positive that he will want to remove the tissue expander because it is still exposed ... TO SAY I AM DEVASTED is an understandment ... So I want a miracle for Maggie and I am calling on all you to pray along side of us for it !!!! 2NDLY ... Amani called today with a name and a face for us to pray about ... He has a physical special need and would like for us to consider him ... Of course I feel in love with the face and will be waiting for the doctor reports .... Scott and I will be in prayer for what God will have us to do ... The thoughts in my head right now are overflowing, exploding, and crashing into each other , so we will just be still and pray !!! Won't you join me ...

Thanks guys ... Love You All ... Pictures of party will follow when I have 5 minutes to spare ...

Well I have posted many things about my special 1st Child ... I have told you about his birth, his amazing heart for his brother and sisters, his growing relationship with the Lord, and how I love him as my son ... I thought this year I would tell you what a fabulous FRIEND I think he is ... Jeremiah is the boy who walks into a room and instantly makes the room brighter with his outgoing personality, funny sense of humor, and relaxed nature ... He is always cautious to make sure that no one is feeling left out and is quick to point out some one's strengths and not their weakness ... He is a loyal friend and will defend what is right ... Scripture tells us that there will be friends that "stick closer than a brother." ... I think Jeremiah is blessed to have many special friends in his life and I am especially thankful for Michael ... Michael and Jeremiah have a love for the Lord, family, and each other ... They are like brothers and we challenge them to look out for each other, hold each other accountable, and to always put Christ first ... Jeremiah, we love you and all that teach us in how to be a friend ... Happy 11th birthday !!! We are honored to be your parents !!!!

My first post is Proud Mama moments ... Sunday as the pastor talked about the economy and Man's view versus God's view I wasn't sure what Jeremiah understood, but he came home and took his birthday money out and put a percentage in Abigail and Joseph's money jar ... I was so proud because you see he is saving all his money in hopes of traveling to Uganda with me to pick up his brother and sister ... I desperately want my children to look into the eyes of people in need both here and abroad ... I want them to be love to someone who is hurting ... And secondly, today I get an email from Elijah's teacher and she ask each child in class "So today is the luckiest day of your life, what would you do?" and Elijah said, "I would bring Abigail and Joseph home." ... Can you see me crying at my computer ... It was such a blessing on my day !!! Thank you Lord for boys, who I know will share Christ with Joseph and teach him how to be a warrior for Christ !

shopoatsvallvillage.blogspot.com

(permission granted for use of Katie's pictures)

UGANDA ...

As most of you know God has been preparing our hearts for two precious children from Africa ... A son and a daughter to sit at our table, to love on, to protect, to pray for, to share God with, to cheer on in life, to make pb sandwiches for, to tuck into bed a night, to sing songs with, to take on vacation, to kiss their booboo, to teach to read, to color with, and so much more !!! Since Katie entered our lives and turned it upside for the Lord we have felt our hearts pulled to Uganda ... We know we want to do life with Katie and her ministry there for as long as God calls us to and we hope that is a very long time ... So since our hearts are in Uganda with Katie it just felt so of the Lord that Abigail and Joseph were there ... We have put in our application to an orphange there called AMANI BABY COTTAGE (you can google it) ... We are beyond thrilled, at peace, and so preparing ourselves for the journey God has for us and our two children in Uganda, Africa! We don't have any real time frames, but we do know we could bring our children home by end of year ... Thank you Lord for clarity and answer to prayers for Scott and I ...

I read a recent post from a blog that just really rocked my world and it talked about getting down in the DIRT with the orphans of the world that no one even wants to look at or touch, the HIV positive children, the children who appear physically undesirable, yet so beautifully created by the Lord, the children who shutter at someone's touch because they don't know what it feels like, and the horrific look of a child that is starving ...I pray we can get in the DIRT and see all that God wants us to see in the children of Uganda... I know He will change us, because I have never been the same since that day I walked into a governmental building in China and Emily was placed in my arms !!!

I don't what this adoption journey will bring for us, but I do know we are stepping our toes in the water first knowing that God will part the sea ... I think sometimes you have to show the blind faith before you can clearly see the Lord ... Yes, we still have to finish Maggie's surgerys ... Yes, we still have about $13,000 to raise ... Yes, this seems absolutely absurd by world standards, but not the Lord,s ... Yes, economic times are supposedly tough by worldly standards, but compared to those starving around the world we have MORE THAN ENOUGH ...

So I ask you to lock arms with us ... Help us as we JUMP IN !!!! The t-shirts have been a blessing of a fundraiser and I have the short sleeve version coming in this week along with little girl and Men sizes ... I am asking you to continue to spread the world via your blog, add me to your facebook, and email all your friends about the shirts ... I would love to sell to all fifty states (already sold to London, Canada, and Puerto Rico) ... I am working diligently on the book and have a GOLD PARTY scheduled ... And have a few other things up my sleeve that I know the Lord the will bless ...

Scott and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for joining us on this Adventure that God has called us to ...

"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but the one who sent me." Mark 9:37

WELCOME JOSEPH ... WELCOME ABIGAIL

This thought comes to my mind on a daily basis ... "HOW DO I DO IT !!!" and the answer is always the same ... I am blessed beyond words to have a husband, who 8 years ago said, "I feel God calling you to stay home and be with Jeremiah and allow us more family time." ... Can I just tell you I did not hear that from the Lord ... I liked my career in teaching, coaching, drama productions, and more... Scott felt very strongly that this was our next step as a family and I gave him all the road blocks 1. We can't do this financially, 2. I like my career and I don't want to stay at home, 3. I would get to bored, 4. We can't do this financially, 5. I don't ever want to give up coaching it is my gift from God, 6. WE CAN'T DO THIS FINANCIALLY !!! Scott ask me to pray about it and I did (This was about April 2001) ... We decided to get our finances in order just in case and wouldn't you know by October I was sitting in the principal's office crying saying I would not be back next year that I felt God tugging at my heart to stay home with Jeremiah ... This was with out a doubt one of the best decision we have ever made as a couple ... God then begin to grow me as His daughter ... It was baby steps at first and now I look at my life and realize how fortunate I am to have a husband who wants me home, follows every crazy faith journey that God sends me on and always continues to do the hard work of providing while I get to be available for the kids during the day, volunteer for Amazima two days a week, mend Maggie's heart, get my work outs in at the YMCA, fundraise for yet another adoption of our two precious children somewhere in Africa, and continue to help educate myself and others on the ORHAN crisis in the world. I could do none of this without his support and love ... I am thankful the passion that God has called me to is important to Scott ... He sometimes looks at me with that NOT AGAIN look or please don't tell me another sad story about an orphan or stop forwarding me all those horribly sad videos, or sometimes I go to tell him a Katie story and he will say OF COURSE I BELIEVE she can do all that (no shock factor anymore ... He sees Christ annointing on her) ... You see I get my heart for those in need from my mother and Scott ... These two people have molded me over the years at very different times in my life ... Scott is the first person in a room to go over to the oddest or most out of place person and make them feel special ... He is the leader in our home and always points us to Christ! Plus he is one of my number one T-SHIRT sellers ...

Scott, I love you and am proud to journey life with you my best friend ... I pray your birthday tomorrow (March 3rd) is not just another day, but a day to be thankful for all God has brought you in life and for all that He is still going to aks you to do ... Thank you for allowing me the ability to fly ... YOU ARE TRULY THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS !!!

Always and Forever !!!

How does a mother truly describe into words the amazing person her child is ... It was easy to come up with a symbol for Elijah because he makes everyday a surprise for me ... He brings us all JOY and when people meet him they instantly fall in LOVE with him because God has gifted him with the ability to make JOY out of even the simplest things ... Hand him a piece of gum and his face lights up, ask him to ride in the car with you somewhere and it's as if you just invited him to Disneyland, or hand him a $1 toy and you have just made his day ... He always reminds me to stop and smell the roses that our FATHER created ... He puts a smile on my face each and every day !!! My heart is filled with his contagious energy and I am so proud and honored to be his mother ...

Now along with all that joy comes the RED HEADED emotions, which some days get the best of him, but I know that is just because he loves so hard, gives so much, his feelings are hurts easier, and all his emotions are just heightened ... It is a GIFT and I know in the future it will serve him well ... He has a true gift to LOVE on the spot with no questions ask and I love that about him ... To be honest Elijah has probably helped Maggie in her adjustment more than anyone since she came home a year ago ... She didn't like him at all and I am not exaggerating ... She wouldn't look at him, wouldn't talk to him, hit him if he came near, and scratched at him all the time, but he never once gave up trying to love her !!! Everyday he would try and kiss her good bye before going to school and would run to her in the afternoon when he got home ... He helped her to learn that no matter how many times you turn me away I am your brother and I love you !!!!

Elijah, your dad and I could not be more proud of you ... You are one amazing son and you bring us more JOY than we deserve !!!!

Love You Elijah !!!