Weekend fun

Our three day weekend was full of old stories and friends. Friends of ours from college came to stay the weekend....with their 5 kids! It was so great to visit with them. A sign of a great friendship is one that can pick up right where it left off years ago. With all the fun and chaos we didn't take too many pictures.

We did venture out on a hike Saturday that someone (I'm not saying who) told us was about 30 minutes one way. We started out all full of energy and smiles.

After more miles and minutes than we had expected, we finally reached the falls.

That's the boys in the lower corner. It was beautiful. The only problem was needing to get back to the car. We did find a little less scenic but easier trail down. The girls couldn't quite hang. Lucy fell asleep on Tim's shoulders and Lindsey on my back.

After relaxing some at the pool yesterday evening we are gearing up for our neighborhood yard sale this Sat. We have been accepting donations and have some really nice things to sell. I'm looking forward to, once again, going through our home and downsizing on our amount of "stuff".

I truly appreciate all the kind words of encouragement that have been left over the past week. I am trying to live in the now, cherish these special moments with my family and friends, building up my faith in Him so when He calls us to "move" in any direction, I am ready to go.

Sales and good news

I have had two emails asking if we are still selling shirts. (I think I confused some with my last week push for sales.) We are still taking orders for both styles of t-shirts. However, just remember that we have to wait until we have a certain number to actually order. This usually takes about 3-4 weeks. (All other items are ready to ship.)

I am hoping to share some pictures next week of families and kids we've received wearing the shirts...so, so cute!

In my last heavy post I did forget to share some good news: Korea has prolonged closing their international adoption program from 2012 to 2016. Which I am thinking is a good thing as the new wait times will add another year between the girls and this next child....who you KNOW will need a little brother or sister to grow up with.

Just sayin'!

Joining the Army

WARNING: heavy post below.

We received an email yesterday from our agency announcing that there would be no more EPs (exit permissions) issued by the Korean government until January 2012. In non-adoptive language it means that for families (like ours) that have not received a referral, regardless of when you do, you may not travel to bring that child home until at the earliest Jan. 2012.

And so we remain a family of 6 for 2011.

I was feeling a bit "sucker punched" as this was new to me. I had heard for the first time last month about a different agency that had run into a back log of EPs for their families. (More referrals sent out then the government would allow EPs for.) I was a bit frustrated then because I didn't even know this possibility existed. I do wish we would have been informed of the chance--I don't think it would have changed our decision--but would have allowed this mommas heart some time to prepare.

I think this has happened before with our agency but in the late fall. Again, meaning that families that received their referrals after Sept. would wait to travel until the first of the year. Last I checked it isn't even June yet and so the "sucker punch" struck.

I went up to my room to "prink". (Tim told me that is what Francis Chan calls thinking and praying.) I posted on Facebook that I was "feeling defeated by the Korean government". Then I went to bed.

And then the Lord spoke to my heart. The words written in Exodus, that I shared as my lesson learned some weeks ago, came alive as ONLY the Word of God can:

"Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

And so I am reminded that the battle in adoption is not just fought through paperwork and huge fees...it is bigger and more complex that what we see. There is a spiritual battle for the lives of these children (and for the lonely, oppressed..) that we cannot see. This is the battle that the Lord is fighting. He is fighting for the underdog who He loves, who He would leave the other 99 to find.

He will NOT be defeated. I am standing with renewed strength to endure on the side that is UNDEFEATABLE.

Wordless Wednesday

I-will-not-use-the-word-"fundraising" post

We had enough of that last week. I have a bit of a hard time balancing it all--posts I want to write/share but the need to, well, you know! :)

We had a great weekend. The weather here (high 80s) made it feel like summer AND we finished up our school and testing...so it really was our first summer weekend! Tim pulled out the tagalong that we had when the boys were little. Lindsey. was. thrilled.

Did you notice her smile? She kept it the whole time they rode. Our neighborhood is full of bike paths...where the two (Tim and Lindsey) spent any spare moment they had.

We also planted our little vegetable garden. Although very small...we enjoy the tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.

Lindsey kept her helmet on all weekend, just in case one of those spare moments arose.

Lucille in all her girliness...not sure where she gets it or what to do with it!

I hope you all had a nice weekend. I have been reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I would encourage ALL of you to get a copy for your summer reading. And from that book I leave you with a quote and my motto for the summer (and after):

"Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing......Through all the haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away."

"We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing"

Psalm 39:6

Slow down...live in the moment He has given...thank Him for and in all things.

LET SUMMER BEGIN!

Notification of Payment Received, please.

This is the last weekend to order a t-shirt. Monday morning we will place the orders for both the

"got love? adopt."

and

"What is good?"

...to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

t-shirts.

I think this will be the last order to ensure delivery before Father's Day..unless the payment gates open with a flood over the next two weeks---which would be delightful. (If not, the next order will be placed mid-June.)

THANK YOU to all who have sent us a "Notification of Payment Received" email and to all of you who shared our shirts with friends and church.

Have a great weekend.

In case you missed it....

WE ARE SELLING T-SHIRTS.

We have two different t-shirts for sale (as well, as other things). Our fundraising is in full swing as we push to raise the rest of the money we need at the time of our referral. Can you help? We have had several families purchase shirts for their airport homecoming and family pictures at the beach. We had a group purchase shirts for their summer mission trip to South Africa. Several couples purchased shirts for the leaders of their church's adoption/orphan ministry.

Father's day is just around the corner..will you consider a purchase from our blog to give?

Be sure to check the side bar for styles and color choices. Feel free to email or comment if you have any questions. Again, thank you for your consideration. We have been overwhelmed at the response and encouraging words and pictures that have come our way.

**I can't wait to be posting pictures of a sweet little Korean face...wearing one of our shirts, of course! :)

Colossians 1:17

"He is before all things and in Him all things hold together."

I have heard it said,

"Today I will marry my best friend"

on wedding invitations and the such. I would have agreed with that statement on May 18, 1996...but today, 15 years later, I would say,

"The man I married has remained my best friend".

Happy Anniversary, Tim. I love you!!

blog joke

How many fundraisers can you fit on one blog?

*"What is good?" Micah 6:8 t-shirts

*"got love?" t-shirts

*beach/pool bags

*car decals

*multicolored Ugandan magazine necklaces

*Katie's red dirt road Ugandan necklaces

*travel mugs

*cotton totes

*handmade tutus

*donation

As many as it takes.

My Week in Review

HIGH

We were able to start taking orders for a new shirt design.

"What is good?"

"...to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8

I am excited about this design because it is so versatile. We are hoping to see orders coming in for Father's Day, youth groups and summer mission teams. My HIGH is definitely seeing our Minus 1 Project in full swing!

LOW

My low this week resulted from both cars needing repairs. ugh.

LESSON LEARNED

The Lord just wants me to be willing to have "an open table". See post below.

An Open Table

The very cool thing about the word of God is how it speaks to people in different ways. I love how the Lord uses His words to meet, comfort and direct the reader. And so when the story of David and Mephibosheth was shared on at church, it screamed ADOPTION to me.

Summing up the story: David, because of his love and devotion to Jonathan, seeks to find if there "Is anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?" (2 Samuel 9:1) and "Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God's kindness?" (2 Samuel 9:3)

When David learns that there is one of Jonathan's sons still alive he has him, Mephibosheth, brought to him.

Upon Mephibosheth's arrival David says to him, "...I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table." (2 Samuel 9:7)

And so here you have a young man, a stranger to David one day and the next being welcomed with open arms to receive an inheritance and to eat at "David's table like one of the king's sons". (2 Samuel 9:11).

The result of David's actions brings joy to my heart: "Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king's table.." (2 Samuel 9:13)

May our table, although not quite as fancy as a king's, always be open to any and all that the Lord brings to it.

The winner is...

The Roberts Six

A sincere "thank you" to all of you who shared our new shirts with others. I hope we have enough sold to send the order in at the end of next week. We just added a purple women's fitted tee to the colors. (I hope to add a picture of it this week.)

Check back later for a non-fundraising post. Something I want to share and, frankly, I am a bit tired of just posting fundraising stuff but-- ya do what ya gotta do to get your little home! :)

Just in...

Katie's "RED" dirt road Uganda necklaces...limited quantity ($25).They are so fun and beautiful. (Use donation button)

Thanks to my favorite teenager for modeling.

Reminder: Keep sharing our new shirt, winner will be drawn Wed. afternoon.

Spread the "What is good?" message!

We are off on another fundraising adventure!! We can't do it alone. Will you please share our new shirt design with others?

What is good?

"He has shown you, O man, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

Wouldn't these shirts make great youth group or college Bible study group shirts? How about a summer mission team shirts? Father's Day gift? The possibilities are endless...

Our blog and Facebook page can only share our new shirt so far.....and we have a son or daughter to bring home soon. Will you please help us? Please consider sharing our shirts with your church, summer Bible study group, friends, family, Facebook or out in the blog world. Let me know that you have shared (or are planning on sharing) and we'll enter your name to win one. We'll pick the winner Wed. (May11) afternoon.

**side note--I am so thankful to my witty husband for his creative ideas for our shirts and our Heavenly Father who continues to walk with us during this journey, dropping confirmations along the way, that we are on the right road. Our Minus 1 Project is in full swing!! :)

Happy Day to my Mom!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Mom-it was very hard to find any recent photos (since grandkids arrived) of just me and you. Or you by yourself, for that matter. I'm thinking that says it all about your absolute LOVE for your grandchildren and family. You are a wonderful example of a mother's love: selfless, encouraging, supportive, giving, gracious...and the list goes on. I am always amazed at your (and Pop's) desire to be involved in the lives of all your children and grandchildren. The time and energy you invest in us is irreplaceable. I love you!

What is good?

We have all heard the saying that "Life is good." But what does God say is good?

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8

Order yours today......spread the real news of "What is good?".

Something good is coming....

Something BIG is coming.......not "referral" big........but something really good!

Moving blogs....

just for today!! I had the honor of being asked to be a "guest blogger" on Carrie's blog. Come visit me, if not for my post, then to see one of the best blog header photographs I have ever seen!

CLICK HERE

"The Adoption Fist Bump"

That's dope?

Followed by a fist bump.

Does that sound like your average shopping experience?

I suppose I should start from the beginning.

We were running errands tonight, and Kobe was looking all suave and debonair in his "got love?" shirt.

The young man that was checking us out started to read Kobe's shirt, got a big old smile on his face and said

"That's dope."

Mind you, I guess sometimes you have to think outside the box with the way people communicate these days. However, we took it to be a positive thing with the great big grin on the young man's face.

The cashier then noticed Kinzie, and then started grinning overtime, looks at me, and says,

"Fist Bump!"

So there I stood in the middle of my transaction...fist bumping it with the cashier...all over...

ADOPTION!

Hey, I am willing to give anyone a fist bump, any day if that is what it takes to get them to think about adoption.

Whatever it takes.

**This was a post taken from my dear blogging friend, Darcie. She has a daughter from China, too. She posted this on Facebook and I loved it!! I am so glad she shared it with me and so glad that her son is wearing proudly his "got love?" shirt!**

I would love to hear any other conversations our shirts have started! I love adoption. Two fist bumps from me, Darcie!