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Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Burning The Candle At Both Ends ...
It is a late night for me, but I needed a break to give you a few praises, updates, and prayer requests ...
This past weekend I hosted our China Travel Group reunion ... 6 of the 11 families attended and it is always a sweet and emotional time ... You can see the girls take a couple of hours to adjust to each other and then they just start playing ... It is such a sweet sweet site and brings so many emotions to the surface of how blessed we are to have these amazing girls in our life as our daughters !!! They all turned 5 this year and we could not be more proud of them all !!! I promise to post pictures soon ...
We also got a call Friday from a friend, whose daughter just got back from 6 weeks in Africa (oh the things she saw) ... One part of her trip was a visit to Amani. She delivered Joseph his family picture book I made and she told me that he already calls himself Joseph and that he went running with his book to show his friends that he has a family. I just can't describe the joy in my heart at knowing my son knows he has a forever family coming to bring him home ...
Working late on THE BOOK tonight ... It is 190 pages so far and it is close to being complete and honestly I can' wait to be done. I feel humbled that God called me to do this, but also feel so much pressure to do it right and honoring to God ... I have cried many tears tonight as I read again your stories and really see your heart, see you choosing the path of adoption, see you waiting for your child, see you holding your child for the first time, see you change into the person filled with God's love and purpose ... Thank you for allowing me this honor ...
Jeremiah is away at the beach for a week with his best friend Michael. He has only been away from home one other time for 5 days and it is something I don't like if I am being honest. This mama likes all her peeps under her roof. He is calling everyday and I miss him so much !!!
Katie has got me busy (hee hee) and walking alongside of her is completely a blessing for our entire family. When the house is falling down around me w/ dishes and laundry, I always say I would rather help an orphan, answer a phone call about adoption or direct someone in a email on ways they can help Amazima over housework any day ... hee hee
Maggie was very sick last week and is recovering well. She is doing really good these days and it just comforts my heart to see her at peace ... She will probably have surgery again sometime in Nov. or Dec., so please continue to pray for her ...
I would like to ask for special prayers for the McNair family. Our son played basketball with Steve's son and I know it can not be easy right now with all the media intrusions. We will pray for comfort for his wife and his sons.
Back to work ... I am thinking I will get some sleep sometime around the end of August ...
Love You All !!!
Reminder ... shopoatsvallvillage.blogspot.com ... we are not ordering any more of the short sleeve designs. The men's brown shirts are sold out and we have a few orange Orphan Definition in the distressed look and few blue fitted 147 million orphans left, along with the regular t-shirt w/ the Orphan Definition Design ... Only a couple of youth girls and boys left also ... email me if you are interested in a certain size (twohunangirls@yahoo.com)... I can't tell you how amazing it was to see so many people at the concert in the t-shirts ... WE WERE SHOUTING TO THE LORD and SPEAKING UP FOR THE ORPHANS ...
This past weekend I hosted our China Travel Group reunion ... 6 of the 11 families attended and it is always a sweet and emotional time ... You can see the girls take a couple of hours to adjust to each other and then they just start playing ... It is such a sweet sweet site and brings so many emotions to the surface of how blessed we are to have these amazing girls in our life as our daughters !!! They all turned 5 this year and we could not be more proud of them all !!! I promise to post pictures soon ...
We also got a call Friday from a friend, whose daughter just got back from 6 weeks in Africa (oh the things she saw) ... One part of her trip was a visit to Amani. She delivered Joseph his family picture book I made and she told me that he already calls himself Joseph and that he went running with his book to show his friends that he has a family. I just can't describe the joy in my heart at knowing my son knows he has a forever family coming to bring him home ...
Working late on THE BOOK tonight ... It is 190 pages so far and it is close to being complete and honestly I can' wait to be done. I feel humbled that God called me to do this, but also feel so much pressure to do it right and honoring to God ... I have cried many tears tonight as I read again your stories and really see your heart, see you choosing the path of adoption, see you waiting for your child, see you holding your child for the first time, see you change into the person filled with God's love and purpose ... Thank you for allowing me this honor ...
Jeremiah is away at the beach for a week with his best friend Michael. He has only been away from home one other time for 5 days and it is something I don't like if I am being honest. This mama likes all her peeps under her roof. He is calling everyday and I miss him so much !!!
Katie has got me busy (hee hee) and walking alongside of her is completely a blessing for our entire family. When the house is falling down around me w/ dishes and laundry, I always say I would rather help an orphan, answer a phone call about adoption or direct someone in a email on ways they can help Amazima over housework any day ... hee hee
Maggie was very sick last week and is recovering well. She is doing really good these days and it just comforts my heart to see her at peace ... She will probably have surgery again sometime in Nov. or Dec., so please continue to pray for her ...
I would like to ask for special prayers for the McNair family. Our son played basketball with Steve's son and I know it can not be easy right now with all the media intrusions. We will pray for comfort for his wife and his sons.
Back to work ... I am thinking I will get some sleep sometime around the end of August ...
Love You All !!!
Reminder ... shopoatsvallvillage.blogspot.com ... we are not ordering any more of the short sleeve designs. The men's brown shirts are sold out and we have a few orange Orphan Definition in the distressed look and few blue fitted 147 million orphans left, along with the regular t-shirt w/ the Orphan Definition Design ... Only a couple of youth girls and boys left also ... email me if you are interested in a certain size (twohunangirls@yahoo.com)... I can't tell you how amazing it was to see so many people at the concert in the t-shirts ... WE WERE SHOUTING TO THE LORD and SPEAKING UP FOR THE ORPHANS ...
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20 kind words.:
Gwen - Praying you're able to find some time to rest. So many exciting things to rejoice about, and yet, I'm sure you are feeling a bit worn out. Sending prayers your way, Amy in OR
You've been a very busy, girl. I can't wait to see reunion pictures of all the sweet girls together. I'll get the release form in the mail as soon as possible. I'll be wearing my orphan shirt on our upcoming trip to Washington DC. I'm sure it will cause a few questions. Bring them on!!
First - you must give Katie many hugs for Scott and me!
Second, praising God for all that He is doing in you and through you Gwen!
Third, sorry we never got our story to you - I keep having time fly by when I would sit down to tell it. I'm sure you are honoring God through every page of your book. I know you heart and more important so does He. Our story speaks of Him in every word we tell - I love retelling it and sharing that we are the parents of 8! It always gives me the opportunity to speak of HIS name!
Fourth - sorry Maggie is sick - we will continue to pray over her!
Sorry to hear about your sons friend's family. Praying over them now!
Lots of love precious friend!
Jill
BIG HUGS TOO!
So thankful Maggie is feeling better!
Sooooooooooooooooo happy Joseph is holding on to his family.
Praying for your family, for the book, for the orphans, for God's will.
Love you and don't forget to stop and sleep sometimes!
Oh, Gwen, reading your blog always makes me feel a little closer to Jesus, his heart, his heart for orphans.
I am a little jealous that we were so close to you and the concert, but not quite close enough to make it. What an awesome moment for you!
Blessings,
Robbie
I remain in awe of all God is doing in your life and through your life.
Don't forget to take some time to REST in Him.
Sweet Maggie ... glad she is better. You know she is always remembered in our family prayers!
So excited about Joseph.
Love & Miss You!
Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim
So good to hear what is going on with ya girlie, I am soooo excited about the book, I cannot tell you, the people it will touch and that will be lead by it also to adopt, I know it will touch many people and we are so excited to be a tiny part of it, and to glorify God!!
Gwen, amazing post!! We are celebrating TODAY our 1 yr. Gotcha Day!! Come on by and see our video meeting Zoie for the 1st time in Addis:)
I'm heading to Haiti in a few weeks... I'd love to get an Oatsvall T shirt:)
Blessings today!!
xoxo
Once again.. everytime I read one of your post...
all I can say is...
"YOU ARE AMAZING".. I cannot believe I have had the pleasure of meeting you.
You have changed my life and I love ya dearly...
I sooo can not wait to see Joseph in your amrs... and Abigail soon after..
So ready to read your book.. it will touch sooo many..
LOVE YA SISTER...
Hey Mrs. Gwen!
I have seen JO 2 days....and he is definitely having fun!
(we r down here 2...hehe) u have nothing 2 worry about....but I understand!
blessings and prayers,
Abbie Whitehurst
(by the way he is in great hands..hehe)
I absolutely LOVE reading your blog.... Praying for you and your family.
Allrightey!! I'm tired just reading about you burnin' the candle at both ends:)
Praying with you all!
Hi, I was just catching up on your posts :) Thinking of you.
Sherri
www.caringbridge.org/oh/kara
You wear me out! I am always amazed at your energy. I do hope you take some time for youself.
I'm am totally pumped about your book. I cannot wait to get my hands on it. Please keep us in the loop about it!
I really look forward to reading your book :) That is so sweet to hear about Joseph and his book and knowing his family!!!! WOW! Hope sister isn't too far behind him!!!
oh dear...how do you keep it all straight?!?
What an inspiration you are!
oh I LOVE hearing how excited he was to get his pic book:)
Get some rest!!!!
Hey, I got your message today, but no record of your phone call and I don't have your number. I am in Michigan visiting Danny's family. Call me again and if I don't answer, leave me your number. I will call you back ASAP. I hope you figured out that you can change the info on the affidavit and that you were able to send it back to Uganda. I fed-exed ours yesterday and it should arrive by Monday. Please pray that we get a date before the break! Call me and leave me your number so that we can chat!
praying for you guys, and i agree, don't forgetbto rest : )
xxx
s
Hi Gwen, I loved hearing about Joseph showing his friends his family. I'm imagining our Zaza doing the same soon.
I also didn't know about the book you are working on! So cool. Can't wait to get one.
Blessings,
Linda, Zaza's Mama