When the ring came over the computer my heart was pounding with excitement and up popped Curry, Joseph and Daisy .... OH THOSE PRECIOUS FACES ... Daisy said all of our names (the kids loved hearing their  name from their sister) and Joseph said hello and signed "I LOVE YOU!"  I woke everyone up, but Maggie (no sense torturing us all the rest of the night ...lol)  to say hello and of course going back to sleep will be next to impossible !!!! They look amazing and I wanted to jump through the screen and give them a big hug and kiss !!!!  TECHNOLOGY IS AMAZING  ... Hard to believe 1/2 way around the world my kids were sitting on a couch in the middle of the day looking at us and we are sitting at our table in Brentwood, TN in our PJ's looking at them ...

Please pray for sweet Curry's heart ... She has loved her time volunteering at Amani and it will be hard for her to leave all her friends there and the children ... I can see in her face that God has grown her in many ways and can't wait to hear all the stories she will share w/ me ... Daisy and Curry have made a special bond and for that I am so thankful ... I pray they will always have a sweet big sister/ little sister relationship !!!

I am learning to be content in my wait for them ... My burning desire is like a flame from the Lord, but I am choosing to use that FLAME as a light to the Lord !!!  I  have done the wait thing before with Emily and Maggie ....  It is never easy, but there is much hope, glory, and a learned obedience to prayer as you WAIT ... I want peace to wash over me each day and for that to happen I have to give it all over to the LORD ...

Thanks for your prayers !!!! Love You All

I promise to get better with pictures in the new year, because I know a lot of you don't like words and want those pictures of my precious kids  ... I wish I would have had a camera tonight as Suzanne and I w/ our kids delivered Thanksgiving goodies for a family that was in need of a little extra love this holiday ... Sweet, precious Ms. Stella is a grandmother, who had a desire for a Thanksgiving turkey to feed her family for Thanksgiving ... She has lost most of her brothers and sister, but will be hosting her 5 grandchildren for dinner ... Her spirit blessed us and the kids loved carrying the food in and saying hello to her ... Her jovial smile was beyond precious !!!!

I want my children to always remember those that are struggling, in need of some help, or are alone and just need someone to say hello with a smile ... We need to be doer of the WORD ... I truly believe we see the face of Jesus in the people we serve ... I left tonight feeling completely blessed by simply giving of the resources that are ours only by the GRACE OF GOD ... It is all HIS anyway !!!!

I pray your THANKSGIVING IS BLESSED ... I am hoping to skype w/ Joseph and Daisy tonight at 3am ... Please pray my computer and Curry's computer in Uganda will work !!!!

It has been a long week and there always seems to be moments lately when I get to choose which direction I will let my emotions go ... sadness or joy, jealousy or contentment, anger or patience, selfish or giving, crying or laughing ... I have been faced with all these emotions and choices this week and it has been very evident as I talk with God on how I should handle these emotions ... I am for the most part a glass half-full kind of girl ... I am one of those people when I have a mound of laundry that totally stinks and I really don't want to do it, that I tell myself, "Thank You Lord for a washing machine/dryer" ... When I walk into someone's big beautiful home I tell myself, "I wouldn't change anything about my life for that big house." ... "When I am sad that my children are not home yet, I tell myself God's timing is perfect and I have comfort in knowing my children are safe and cared for where they are." When I am at my wits end in the giving department, I find peace in giving a little more."  Now don't get me wrong, a lot of times I just fail miserably and just wallow in my emotions and can't find my way out of a paper bag, but I will say that walking w/ Katie, seeing the orphans of the world as real little faces, growing deeper w/ the Lord and meeting so many people who "GET IT" and listening to their stories make it easier day by day to make the decision on how to face the day ... It is the Lord's day, how will I use it ??? It is the Lord's resources, how will I spend them ?? It is the Lord's family, how will I treat them ??

I want so badly to be used and I know He is using my family right now and the closer I feel we get to being in the midst of our purpose the more unworthy I feel ... After all,  I am a horrible sinner and yet the All Mighty Father can receive glory by my obedience to HIM ...  I love that ... I love that the God I serve can use a mess like me to further His kingdom ... Simple, goofy, funny, big mouthed, opinionated, cryer at the drop of hat, orphan loving, can't sleep ME to do His will ... If it weren't so freaking amazing it would be comical ...

Where Am I At Today in my prayers .... Maggie's next surgery is December 16th, Praying for court date for Joseph and Daisy, Pryaying for Scott and the kids, Praying for Katie and her girls w/ the chicken pox, Praying for Josie love to feel better, Praying for Tracy M. children home from Ethiopia, and so much more ...

blessings to all this weekend !!!!

I saw that face come around the corner and it was like dream ... Here in person was this little face I had seen in pictures for over a year; Here in person was this little face I had heard so many stories about; Here in person was this little face with the spirit of a survivor; Here in person was this little face I have grown to love ... The airport scene was filled with the spirit of family ... We were all there to support the Mayernick's and show Josie Love that we are in her corner as she battles much in the coming years with her illness ...  I got me some much needed Josie kisses and hugs ... She is an amazing cuddle bug and her smile will literally light a room ... She has such a peace about her and it was like she knew she was home FOREVER ... Her brothers and sister and all the rest of kids just sat around her amazed at her little face ... So many young people had prayed for this day ... There child like faith shows us so much about how God wants us to see each day ... My Jeremiah said on the way home, "Seeing Josie makes me want Joseph and Daisy home so much more."  Emily told Scott, "Josie is just the cutest little peanut, she looked just like I did when I came home from China."  When I told Maggie that we were going to see Mrs. Mayernick and Josie at the airport, she said, "And Joseph and Daisy too." (only if it were that easy ... lol) ... Elijah must have said, "Oh she is so cute" about a million times ... I of course lost it when Suzanne rounded the corner .... She is like my sister and when she is tired, hurt, happy, sad, or joyful then I am also ....  There is so much invested in praying a child home ... You put your heart on the line everyday with the Lord ... And then the day comes when you are face to face with your prayer and it is such an emotional moment ... I can't imagine how many bottles God has for me in the tear department when it comes to airport homecomings ... I definitely have a shelf or two ...

I just want to thank everyone who has prayed for the Mayernick family and for showing the love that is THE BODY OF CHRIST ...

I will try and post pictures soon or I am sure Suzanne will have some up in a couple of days ...

Off to reflect a little on the events of the night !!!!

If you are in the area please join us Friday, November 13th at 2006 Belmont Blvd. 6-8 pm at the FEEDBACK store (across from Bongo Java) ... There will be food, music, and FASHION SHOW ... I expect all my friends/family to be there w/ the 147 Million Orphan's gear ...

God is truly using this 147 project to change hearts and lives both here and afar ... I have said this a lot lately, but we are not about the number 147, but we are about the children ... God is the only one, who knows how many orphans are in the world ... We choose this name to make people aware that we are in a crisis in regards to THE LEAST OF THESE ... I want to say thank you to all who have purchased items, are sharing our story, and telling people about Katie ... I feel the strength in our numbers and I see God being glorified through our work ... WE ARE ON AN AMAZING JOURNEY !!!

blessings all !!! it would be so cool if I could announce tomorrow about a trip to Uganda ... GOD MOVE MOUNTAINS FOR US SO WE CAN GET TO OUR CHILDREN ...

The past 3 days have been utterly amazing ... We had 3 Events Friday for 147 (over 9000 meals for Karomajong Children in Uganda will be bought) , Saturday was the SHOW HOPE event w/ Marybeth and SCC, and Sunday was the CRY OF THE ORPHANS Event ... Every face I saw was real to me, every song sung pierced my heart, and every plea made on behalf of the ORPHANS got a big ole AMEN from me ... My heart was breaking and being renewed all at the same time ... God wants us to CARE FOR THE ORPHANS, not just CARE ABOUT THE ORPHANS ... We have to be doers of the word, we have to get our hands dirty and our hearts broken ... We are not the answer, because there will always be poor among us and there will always be orphans, but we can be obedient and glorify the Lord with our actions ... SO IT IS TIME TO GET OFF THE SIDELINES AND JOIN THE BATTLE ... We are warriors for Christ and we can fight the oppression, the loneliness, the hunger, the desolation, and the fear that plagues every orphan out there ... THE HEAVENLY FATHER IS WITH THEM AND YOU CAN SEE HIS FACE IN THEIRS, SO LETS GO ON A TREASURE HUNT FOR THE LORD !!!

HERE IS MY FAVORITE QUOTE FROM THE WEEKEND BY COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL'S PRESIDENT ... "IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN THEN ORPHANS IS YOUR THING!" ... That is powerful and would make a great t-shirt (so don't anybody steal that one from me ... hee hee) ...

I know I am preaching to the choir here, but it is time to mobilize people and start challenging our friends, family, and church to step up to the battle !!!!!

I just know when I get to Uganda and see the precious faces of the Karomajong children and touch all the children in the Amazima program this will be even sweeter, but for now the feeling in my heart is about to overflow ... In just one day of setting up at Shopapalooza event at a local church  and selling our 147 MILLION ORPHAN GEAR, we will be donating to Katie/Amazima meals for 2,971 children !!!! The FIRE is here people ... WE ARE GETTING IT ... I saw precious people who had never heard of Katie or 147 listen to Suzanne and I as we shared our hearts for ORPHANS and how they could help us, plus give a gift to another that spreads the cause ... It is a total WIN WIN  .... We even got to minister to a few people searching for their place in all this and come face to face with a few blog followers whom we had never met .... God was showing us HIS presence yesterday and it was beautiful ... To find your place here on earth and know your purpose is peaceful !!! A day like yesterday is worth all the sleepless nights, the extra pounds (oh you heard me right) and the messy house ...

So Karomajong Children .... WE SEE YOU ... Michael, Hannah, Gloria, and all the thousands of others ... WE SEE YOU .... WE CARE .... YOU ARE REAL TO US .... You are our brothers and sisters in Christ  !!!

Hope your day is blessed and I thank everyone praying for my phone to ring ... I am thinking God loves it and is blessed to see so many who have never laid eyes on each other praying for my PHONE TO RING ... He probably even gets a little chuckle out it ...

We are off today to visit Dr. Phillip Kemp's (Dentist) office ... He is having an orphan awareness day at his office ... Staff all have 147 Million Gear on and will be selling stuff plus he is donating 10% of his proceeds to help us feed children in Uganda .... THIS MAN AND HIS FAMILY GET IT !!!!  His wife's blog is FROMDATINGTODIAPERS.BLOGSPOT.COM ... jump over there and tell her WHHOOOOOHOOOO and WAY TO GO ... If more local businesses found their mission and cause then we could really see some change in this world ... YEAH, DOCTOR KEMP !!!

This past weekend we went to GA and spoke at Tunnel Hill 1st Baptist Church on adoption orphan (surprise I know ... hee hee) ... The minute we walked in the church Sunday morning, I could feel the Holy Spirit moving ... The people were so genuine and friendly ... They welcomed us with open arms and had their hearts wide open and waiting for the Lord to shower them with His presence ... Scott and I took turns sharing our journey to Emily, Maggie, Joseph and Daisy and ended with sharing about Katie and 147 Million Orphans ... There was laughter and tears, but most of all there was God's people responding to HIS call to care for Orphans ... They had already planned a meeting next week with Bethany Christian Services for a question and answer session with about 2-3 families coming ... I spoke w/ Renee today (sweet mom waiting for her daughter in China and organizing the meeting) and she reported they now have 11 families coming ... I also got the sweetest email from a mom at the church saying how when they got in the car on the way home from church her husband said, "I am on board, it is time to adopt." ... I mean can you feel my chill bumps ... As I read this email, I was like YES LORD another child gets a mom/dad, another child gets to be tucked in bed at night, another child gets to hear about YOU, another child gets someone to cheer them on at football, another child gets to be hugged and loved FOREVER ...  This is why Scott and I will never tire of sharing our journey and testifying to what God has done in our life ... Scott always tell people WE ARE NOTHING SPECIAL ... WE ARE JUST A FAMILY, who heard the call and said yes !!!  I could go on and on about how the weekend blessed us, but to be honest I was a little down on my way there thinking about how I long to be on African soil to see my children and then God dropped all these blessings my way ... Talking with these families and seeing the light in their eyes, watching them fall in love with a child they have never met, and hearing their excitement to begin this journey, TRULY REJUVENATED ME ...

 ... Big HUGS to Anna and Anna Bliss for going with us and loving on the kids ... These are two senior girls who get it ... They are beautiful on the inside and out ... I mean how many 17 year olds choose to get in a van w/ the Oatsvall team for a road trip ... Anna and Anna Bliss love orphans, understand the miracle of adoption, and love us !!! Thanks girls for blessing our lives !!!



Now on to today ... Jeremiah made the headmaster's list (which means all A's for the nine weeks) ... They had an awards ceremony and we were beyond proud of him ... We always talk about how his sport's ability will mean nothing if he can't get a good education and discipline himself to learn and become a leader ... JEREMIAH YOU ROCK !!! He must have reminded me about today over 30 times, so I got up took a shower (I need some applause right there), did my hair (miracle), and got there on time to cheer my boy on ... Now, I understand how a 5th grade boy isn't going to love on his mom in front of everyone, so I was pleased that he did come find me and give me a hug before the program, but as soon as it was over they were going to let us have a sometime w/ our child when Jeremiah comes sprinting at me with lightening speed to tell me HE CAN'T BE LATE FOR PE and poof he is gone ... Oh well, I guess I got to shock some parents today with my appearance since I wasn't in sweats ... hee hee

If you are in the area, 147 Million Orphans will be at Brentwood Methodist Church 9-5 for SHOPapalooza this Wednesday ... Drop by and see some really cool new products ...

CONTINUE TO PRAY WE GET THE CALL FOR UGANDA ...