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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE ... FOR UGANDA !!!

Ok, so after I got my call saying I'M GOING TO UGANDA this morning I got to skype w/ Joseph and Daisy ... Can I just tell you that I am going to run in the gates of Amani and simply tackle my precious babies ... Their faces were beaming and their voices just simply melted my heart ... I PLAN TO LEAVE APRIL 2ND ... COURT IS THE 6TH ... DON'T STOP PRAYING !!!

You guys are amazing !!! All your sweet comments and encouragement has seriously put my giddiness over the top today !!! This is how I answer the phone now, "I"M GOING TO UGANDA, I'M GOING TO UGANDA" ... Started packing (got the pop tarts today for Auntie Mary in Uganda), used up all the minutes on my phone, celebrated my hubby's 40th birthday (YEAH FOR MY HONEY),  and simply stopped every minute to THANK THE LORD for my phone call !!! I could not make it one day without Him and His might power, love, and strength ...








4 May he give you the desire of your heart 
       and make all your plans succeed.


 5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious 
       and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. 
       May the LORD grant all your requests.


 6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; 
       he answers him from his holy heaven 
       with the saving power of his right hand.


 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 
       but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.


 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, 
       but we rise up and stand firm.


I LOVE YOU ALL AND FEEL BLESSED YOU CARE ENOUGH TO CHECK IN ON OUR CRAZY LIFE AND PRAY FOR MY FAMILY !!!

60 kind words.:

Stephanie @ It Is Well said...

I am so stinkin' excited for y'all! :D I was just praying the other day that you would have all your babies home in plenty of time for Mother's Day this year. :D So excited for you to finally get to love on your sweet Joseph and Daisy and BRING THEM HOME!!! :D Praying still.

Kristin said...

I am so happy for you and your family! I just started reading your blog recently and I just love it......and your husband's video was SO helpful.....I made my husband sit down and watch it after he told me he just didn't know if he could adopt and now he is saying he is not opposed to it, just a little scared. I will be praying for you and looking forward to hearing all about your trip to bring your kids home!

Jim and April said...

Praise the Lord! So excited for you! Oh what a day that will be when you get to run and squeeze in your arms, your little ones again! Btw, LOVE the picture of your two precious daughters jumping for joy!

Julie said...

Oh, Gwen! I am so excited for you! We have been waiting for a phone call, too, so it is always encouraging when we hear of someone out there who did get it! It reminds us that it will happen. Joy!!!

Unknown said...

ok, how did you get that cute pic?? that is too adorable...so excited, kristi

Michelle said...

Hooray!!!! Our God is an awesome God!! Love you and can't wait to kiss those beautiful kids when they come home.

"Are These Kids All Yours?" said...

COMPLETELY SOOO EXCITED for you! I'm pretty sure I have heard the shouts of JOY all the way down here- in SW LA..... :) It is amazing...and your wait has been long, but HIS REWARDS are worth far more than any jewels! YES! Praying for court & your return home!!!!

Musings from Kim K. said...

I love that picture of the girls. It just captures all your joy and excitement. Congratulations on your official court date! It's about TIME!!!

Erica said...

So beyond excited for you all!!

Melinda said...

Look at those sweet girls! I bet they are so excited about their new sister and brother that will be home soon! Praying daily for you girlie! Love you!

jennifer said...

So happy for you!!

Kim said...

YEA...
LOVE IT>.
LOVE that photo...
HUGS..
Sooo HAPPY ..
you sooo DESERVE IT..
Love ya

TanyaLea said...

I'm SOOOOO excited for you all! More babies coming home soon... THANK YOU JESUS!!! <>< I feel your excitement over here in MN and I just want to jump up and down with all the excitement in that *ADORABLE* photo above!!

CONGRATS on the EXCITING news! We'll be pray'in ya through with all the others!

God bless! <><
~Tanya

Goodness and Mercy Mom said...

God is so good!!! I can't wait to see the first photo of your whole family together forever. I'm praying for peace, safety, strength, health, and joy as you travel and bring your new babies home.

Much Love,
Kathie

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness...I am SOOOOO happy for you all....this is awesome news. Praising God with you. Will continue to pray you there and all the way home.

Blessings,

Connie

Jan J. said...

Wonderful news! Oh how I long to adopt again - so happy for others who are doing it!

dgporter said...

LOVE, LOVE, LoVe this news! God is absolutely incredible.
I have to quickly comment on your husband's video too. My husband watched it,too, and could completely relate w/ what he said. Thank you for sharing openly.
We are in Russia right now...one more week to go before we head home with our beauty!

Carrie said...

No Way! I am soooooo excited for you all! What joy; God is good! I wish I could be there to see you tackle your kids with the love I know you are bursting with now. So so excited for you.
Love You All,
Carrie
www.hiswillandgrace.blogspot.com

Kim said...

We are shouting for JOY from Hong Kong and faithfully praying!
Love & Blessings,
Kim
P.S. That photo of the girls is over the top cute! Miss you all so!

Unknown said...

I'm with Kim -that photo of the girls is over the top CUTE!

SO EXCITED for you all and praising His name too!

Hugs and love,
Jill

Jessi said...

Oh my goodness! I can't wait to see photos of your WHOLE family finally together. What a precious day that will be. Praising God!

Jewels of My Heart said...

YOU are going to Uganda Baby! Wooohoooooo I am so happy for all of you! Ohhhhh one day soon you will see their little faces and hold them in your arms and they will feel their Mommy's arms around them for the first time.....
Oh, Father, God... You are oh, so good! We have been talking about them for years... praying, and then the Lord started moving mountains and your heart's desire was found in Uganda. He provided the way, and now He has opened the door and your babies will be coming home!
Your Mother's heart would not let go...
Your daughter's heart believed in our ever, faithful, Father...
and soon your babies will be home.
Oh, Thank You Father for Your blessings that are far more precious than we could have truly imagined!
God's Speed,
Love you and will be praying...

Andrea said...

HUGE smile for you all!!! ;o) Praising God with you!!!

Amy said...

Wow! Just Wow! Isn't God amazing!

lisa Kindred said...

What blessed little kids when they realize the big sisters and brothers they are coming home to. Love the picture of your little beauties !

Rejoicing in the wonderful news!!! Love you! LIsa

Wendy said...

Hi Gwen-- fellow lurker / adopted-parent-of-child-from-Uganda-to-be here! Can I ask you how did you get a court date? We're just hanging on waiting for word from our agency as to when cases will be scheduled again. (I hope you don't mind me asking). You can email me if you prefer (wendyATpixelpackinmama.com)

Thank you! And congratulations!!!

Kristy said...

Oh my goodness!!!!! I don't check your blog for one day and of course, I miss all of the excitement! I am so happy for you I am in tears!!!! I will be covering you in prayer. You have been such a great example of someone who has truly found peace in the waiting. Enjoy the excitement!!! I can just imagine what it is lie in your home right now! Ha!!

Deidre said...

I was just praying for you guys two nights ago when I was wide awake at 2am! So excited for you guys!! Cannot wait to see pics of your babies in your arms!

Beth said...

I'm so thrilled for you and look forward to reading about your journey and seeing your family grow! Prayers are going out to you for a safe trip!

Adrienne said...

Love, Love, LOVE the photo of your girlies jumping for joy! I know you are jumping right along with them. Praising God for THE CALL and will pray you through. Congrats!

jill funkhouser said...

We will keep the prayers coming. What an adorable picture! Yahoooo!!!

Nancy said...

ONE DAY! ONE DAY I DON'T check your blog, and you get the call! ONE DAY! Oh, praise Jesus! Hang on Daisy and Joseph...you have NO clue how wonderful your life is gonna be! :) I am crying here...it has been a long haul. YIPPEE, JESUS!!!

Hugs and love...Nancy in CT

Roger Bachman said...

Praying in IL for ya'll :) Say hello to Katie for me. So happy for you guys.

Charity said...

Oh wow - I miss coming over here for a couple of days & look what happens - I should have stayed away a long time ago. ;0) We are happy dancing over here in West TN!!!! So excited for you guys. Will keep praying.
Blessings,
Charity

Cindy said...

Oh, that is so, so, so, so awesome! I can only begin to imagine the thrill of getting the call and packing and planning and not sleeping :) Looking forward to seeing the video of the tackle!...and being introduced to Joseph and Daisy. A longing fulfilled is a tree of life!

Diane and Family:) said...

I thought of you so many times over, today, Gwen! So, I just popped back over to see if this photo of the two big Sisters was gonna make me smile as much as it did this morning, well, yes it has:)

So many thoughts and prayers running through me for your beautiful family, yet, God has it all planned for the Team!! I have so many times been filled with true JOY to spend time on your journey to FAMILY....tonight as I watch your sweet baby girl, Maggie, jumpin' around I am reminded of the sweet baby girl who timidly came into your arms in our beloved China, look at her now, Gwen!! We knew, just knew beyond knowing that God was gonna heal her, and, look at her now!!!

I am just humbled tonight to have witnessed your HUGE love in your family, sitting this side of the computer screen praying and praying for Maggie and you while in China and then slowly seeing this amazing little butterfly God was giving you each and everyday, a bit more of who she was created to be was revealed. Watching the true love of a Father when Scott made the decision that his family came above everything else, and knowing that this was such a reflection the Holy Spirit.I am so very thankful that God has blessed your family with His sweet Joseph and Daisy.

Praying and praying and praying some more....the journey through adoption, to family, can at times be long and overwhelming, yet, the Blessings we've received are many, many more....I am so thankful you have been one of those blessings in my life, Gwen and Oatsvall Team....journey on....GO TEAM!!

Julie said...

Doin' the happy dance for you!!! YIPPEEEE!!! So excited! Your family inspires me! Wish I could be a fly on the wall when you see your two babies in Uganda!! I have a friend who left for Uganda in January. He is living there as a missionary until this summer! Sending prayers to our Heavenly Father. The ONE who has your children engraved on the palm of HIS hands!!! (KY family..2 bio boys, one adopted from Ethiopia this summer:))

Anonymous said...

So happy for you and your family! will continue to keep praying for you guys.

Shannon said...

I can't believe that the one day I don't check your blog you announce this awesome news!! Yay!! So happy for your family and will continue praying for the journey! God is so good!

Lauren said...

Oh so so so happy for you and these beautiful children. Praying for extra strength for you and the family!!

Gillian said...

My heart is singing--it sounds like a gospel choir :)!!!!!!!!!!
Oatsvall's we are SO delighted--the jumping out of your skin kind! This is only the beginning of an incredible destiny for Joseph, Daisy, and the Oatsvall family. Praise you, Jesus--you are GOOD!!
Oooooo! Just KNOW what you're sayin'!! We got our travel call for A and B in the middle of an errand at the Dollar Tree--I shouted and cried and danced around with total strangers...;)...
Get your African dance on, Mama cause--you're goin' to Uganda!!!!Blessings,
Gillian and the Tucker Family

laura said...

congrats! Praise God!

I guess this also means the USKampala is issuing visas again? That is wonderful news!

Our Family said...

Congratulations!! I will keep praying for you as you prepare to travel and love on your precious children. I just won a necklace from Emily's give-away which made my day. Then jumped over to your blog and read your past few entries. My children also have symbols based on what they mean to me spiritually. I have never talked to anyone else who has ever said that!! My oldest daughter is my joy, my middle daughter is my soul, my son is my heart and I think our newly adopted daughter will be my peace. I want to have a necklace made with those words on one side and their names or initial on the other. I've loved your t-shirts, but this makes me feel even more connected. May God continue to bless you on your journey...

Keltie said...

We don't know each other (yet-smile) but I am in Uganda right now (hoping to bring my kids home to Canada very soon) and I came across your name in adoption circles. I wanted to share with you that my 2 Ugandan children's birth names were Daisy and Joseph. Too amazing not to share. God's blessings to your family you as you prepare for this amazing journey.
Keltie Gaunt

Anonymous said...

WOW! So happy for your family Gwen!! I can't imagine the excitement going on with all of you right now...can't wait to see that pic of all the kids and cousins together!!

Shawnstribe said...

Congratulations and have a beautiful safe journey
We will hold you up in prayer
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
s

Amy said...

Waiting for our referral ... have been reading your blog faithfully! So happy for your great news.

Unknown said...

OH MY WORD AND HALLELUJAH!!!!!! This is what I get for not checking blogs for a week! Gwen I am SO STINKING EXCITED for you! Olivia just started screaming when I told her you had got the call. She has still been so faithful to pray for you. We CANNOT WAIT to be at that airport and watch you walk off the plane with those sweet little angels in your arms. God is SO amazing!!!!

Polly said...

your biggest 147 fans of East TN are celebrating this blissful moment with you! Praying for a safe trip and can't wait to hear all about your trip to Uganda. Blessings!

Jaime & Kelly said...

Congrats Momma go get those babies!! Yeah!

Mandy Harvey said...

WOO HOO!!!!!! I am SOOOOO excited for you guys!!!! We will be praying all goes smoothly :-) YAY!!!!!

Anonymous said...

YAY Gwen!

I have been followiong your blog for some time and have been praying for this adoption...so close to having Daisy and Joseph in your ARMS!!!! praising God today!

Jenny Berg

Christi and Abbey said...

whoo hoo!!!!!! we're all going with you in our hearts!

Auntie Amanda said...

praise the Lord!!! If you need anything this week or need any help gathering things while you are gone just let me know!!! I can't wait to see these sweet children in the states! Can we have Amani reunion playdates and let me babysit? Haha :) Love you and will be praying for your travels!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh Happy Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blessings to you all from the Adkins in Georgia

The Ferrill's said...

Oh Gwen!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!!!!! I can imagine you are jumping around like you're on a trampoline! Hallelujah! The time has come at last!

Sophie said...

I just recently stumbled upon your blog and am so thankful for that. You are awsome and I'm so happy for you and your family. Looking forward to following you on your journey as you bring home your children. I'll be praying for you.
Blessings :)

Unknown said...

YEAH...I am sooooo excited for you guys! This is beautiful, beautiful news. Can't wait to see your babies in your arms...all of you have waited so long for this! Wohooo...happy dancin' in So. California!!! Hugs, stacy

Tisra said...

Congratulations! What an exciting time for me to have "discovered" your ministry of 147 and Amazima. I read Katie's blog almost from start to finish last week after being told about it from another adoptive mom. Our adoption changed [is still changing...] our lives. We will never be the same. And, I find it harder and harder to *know* the things I now know, and continue living the same. We're not meant to, are we? So.... all that to say, "I'm now a reader of yours" :-) and can't wait to see your children come home into your family! God's stirring some things in our family and we're just trying to put all the pieces together! And, hopefully our paths will cross- we're in the same area.

Blessings to you and congrats again!
Tisra
mommy to 4 (most recently Dorothy from India)
http://lifetrain.blogspot.com

Blessed Mom of Four AND More said...

Oh, Gail, I've been out of touch the past week....I had previously been checking every day.
I'm sooooooooo happy for you. I can NOT wait to follow your journey. You will be in my prayers,
Robbie

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