Warning Highly Contagious!

Last night the Holy Spirit led me to pray something I had never prayed before. As I tucked my children into their soft beds, I prayed with all solemnity of heart, 'that the Lord would make us contagious, highly contagious.'

What is it that we have, that I want you to catch and all those who come in close proximity to us?...

Adoption!

Oh, how I wish adoption was contagious; that if you got close enough to us and others that carry it-that the same Spirit of Adoption would fall heavily on you too.

Who would benefit? Well, you of course and the world's 143 million orphans.

As I prayed I cried, it is that close to my heart; not just now that we are mailing off another adoption contract, with another agency...but from the moment God touched my heart when I was a wee lass of 13.

I'm going to continue to pray this...be warned...I mean it when I pray,

"Lord make the Spirit of Adoption that rests within us, make it highly contagious. Father, do it for Your namesake and to bring Yourself Glory...in Jesus' name, amen!"

Prayer Request Sunday

HI~ Welcome to Prayer Request Sunday!

Today I stop and gather your prayer requests, either via a comment left at this post or through an email you send me. Then I take them before the Lord throughout the week, seeking God's face with you.

Anyone like prayer? Even if it is something you already asked in a previous week, it's good to let us know you still have need. I say us, because we all are called to pray for one another...I don't have any special ticket to God's throne that you don't. It is wonderful though, to stand believing together before God;I hope all of you will feel welcome to come with us, before God this week.

Hope you will fill me in on what is on your heart.

Bless you sweet friends-oh and by the way if you didn't stop by early this week...soon, we will be announcing our newest adoption plans...totally different than what we had thought. My family and I are beyond excited!

Adoption on our Hearts

Thinking about Addis Ababa Boles International Airport and

Praising Him that we will be seeing it again!

We will be making a Big announcement soon...will you pray for us?

Homemade with Love

Because I needed to have a smile on a very busy day, I decided to post this fleece diaper cover I made for our Ethiopian Princess.

In between the fleece, I added an old flannel lined plastic tablecloth to keep her dry, I saved the monkey from a t-shirt from Old Navy, that was just looking beyond it's day. I threw on some Velcro tape for a fastener, stitched everything in place and wallah, instant joy and happiness.

Tobin, our cat isn't admiring the diaper cover; he is eyeing the graham cracker she is eating. Or perhaps he is ready to make friends, the baby is still hopeful!

And I do love cloth diapers!

My Gift from the Pirate

I taught her to sew and I am now reaping the benefits! I love my new bag,

made out of vintage fabrics that have been busted out of their holding crate

and now are happily draped over my arm.

Not sure when she'll have time to sew; as she is very busy doing her college studies at home. My piratey daughter is also working with an editor, on a book that she is hoping to have published...busy, busy, blessed!

update:

(the past week was done ahead of time and saved to post while we were away)

While on holiday last week (our surprise blessing from my Knight's parents)... this purse was stolen, along with our GPS system that belongs to my Pirate-y daughter and my bag of knitting-all the mittens I knit all summer and the baby knit pants I was working on to match Anna's dress (sigh).

Would you pray for the heart of the thief (s)? They also stole my bible!

We'd love for the stuff to be retrieved (all my credit cards, license, check-book were also included).

The enemy knew we were there to pray about adoption, to hear God's voice...though he distracted us... God still spoke!

Lesson learned...we will be more careful what we leave in our locked car...even if it is out of sight-even in the woods/boondocks of Pennsylvania.

Prayer Request Sunday~Yippee!

How are you dear friends? I hope you had a fabulous week and that God's fingerprints were all over your life!

I'd love to pray for you this week? Anything special that is on your heart? Please leave me a love note or drop me a private email and I'd be happy to join you in prayer.

How happy I am that prayer doesn't require a license. Anyone can come to God in prayer, but oh how He loves it when we come together.

Matthew 18:20

Summer is Fading into Fuzzy

Not sure I am ready to say good-bye.

I am a lover of summer and a *disliker* of fall.

Sorry, *Mama not let you say 'hate.'*

Making Seasoned Breadcrumbs

It was time to clean out the freezer. I came across several bags of unused breads, of varing kinds. I grabbed them out and decided to not only clear out some freezer space, but to feed my family with what was destined to be tossed.

Breadcrumb Recipe: (stop laughing)

• bread
• seasoning (use what you like)

I toasted the bread in a warm oven, to bring out the yummo factor. Tearing it into smaller pieces, so it didn't wedge itself in my food processor. I tossed it in the processor (I did several batches) and added seasoning. I used sea salt, oregano, garlic, basil and a secret baptism of sweet Hungarian paprika. Whirled it until medium fine crumbs manifested themselves. I carefully moved them to a freezer safe container; where they'd await my beckoning to come and help me with dinner.

Isn't cooking fun?

Wordless Thoughts

Good Endings...

Good endings come from prayerful beginnings.

Oh how I love the call of adoption on my life!

Want to follow my orphan dolls....go to the journal at orphandoll.com!

How Princess Mercy Signs...

*forget about it*

Hey, her Papa is Italian.

Prayer Request Sunday

Welcome to Prayer Request Sunday@ Over the Moon with Joy!

Can I pray for you this week? Don't carry your burden alone...let me help you lift it into the arms of our Father. Please leave me a comment with your prayer need-

don't feel silly either;

as it is my absolute pleasure to stand in agreement with you sweet friend.

On my heart:

We have been awaiting this week for months now, my Knight and I are putting our newest adoption before God this week!! We are taking some time as a couple and as a family to seek to hear from heaven, as to where we are to prepare for our children to arrive from. Seeking God on *who* and *where*...knowing He knows and that He is just waiting to tell us.

It reminds me of someone waiting on the corner of a busy intersection for the courier to come, delivering the important longed for message. Our delivery agent will be the Holy Spirit, the message will come to us sealed with authority that only God himself can give. I am sure as we tear open that heavenly envelop, our hands will be trembling with sheer joy at His beautiful coming gift(s) to our family.

Oh, Lord how great are thy ways and how magnificent are your plans!

AND

my fellow prayer warriors...We'd love your prayer!

Hope for Orphans (orphandoll.com)

"Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.”

-Proverbs 16:3

God asked me to sew two little orphan dolls...our home was where they were created and where their journey began from: The dolls are at Debrah's currently-

she has been journaling her time with them here.

We miss them, but know they are doing God's bidding's

and wouldn't want it any other way.

We continue to lift their journey up in prayer. We are seeking God's face and hand upon them...and asking Him to move the hearts of those they meet along their way.

Oh, if we could only hear with our ears the voices and weeping of all the world's orphans,

perhaps then there wouldn't be 143 million orphans among us.

Would you be bold enough to ask God today,

'What can I do about Your orphans Lord?'

Imagine my Surprise!

Meet our kitty-cat *Kisbaba*,

who thought the baby's toy cupboard was a

dandy place to take an afternoon nap.

Need a Little Fun...

My friend Jenni (One Thing)...

who is a follower of Linda (2nd Cup of Coffee)-

who created this little meme...

...sucked me in.

I am going to play, which is not my norm, but hey sometimes you need to mix things up a bit.

(Thanks Linda and Jenni for mixing things up here!)

1. When you go to Wowmart, what one thing do you get every single time, besides a funky-wheeled squeaking cart full of frustration?

I hardly shop here...honestly, ours is rather dumpy.

2. What is something that people are currently "into" that you just don't get or appreciate?

Twitter-what is the purpose??

3. What is something that really hoists your sail that other people might feel "ho-hum" about?

Adoption!!!

4. Favorite song to sing in the shower or car?

Can't say I have a particular favorite. Sometimes I just make up a song as I go- usually Praise and Worship, but sometimes a *make the kids laugh* type ditty.

5. A really great salad must have this ingredient:

croutons *homemade* and really FAT and crunchy!

6. Advice in a nutshell to new bloggers (one or two sentences):

Share your heart, be transparent as you comfortably can and you will make an impact, hopefully for the Kingdom.

Make friends and enjoy the ride.

7. What was the alternate name that your parents almost named you?

*Blue Sky*

Do you wish they had chosen it instead of the one they gave you?

Absolutely...I wanted to use it for one of our daughters, but my Knight shot it down, sigh.

8. What in your life are you waiting for?

Hearing from God next week, as my Knight and I seek Him on *who and where *

our next child/children will come from. (adoption)

9. You get a package in the mail. What is it, and who is it from?

Probably a package of something I won on Ebay...today it was size large (cloth) diaper covers

10. Today--what song represents you?

Your Love Oh Lord

Third Day (I love Mac Powell!)

11. What is one thing that blogging has taught you about yourself?

That I can trust God when He tells me to do something-even when it is way beyond my experience or skill. Where He calls, He enables.

12. How are you going to (or how did you) choose the clothes you're wearing today? What do they say about you in general or specifically how you're feeling today?

*blushing*

A definite *What Not to Wear* moment

a tank top and sweats...I woke up with a stomach thing and knew I wasn't leaving the house.

What does it say...comfy, natural and relaxed and my Knight will dig it...

The good thing is...I am ready for bed!

Hope you'll play along too! Copy the original text for the meme over @

2nd Cup of Coffee

Thrifted Treasure

On our last weekend trip to our cabin in Vermont...we snuck out on Saturday to thrift in St. Johnsbury. There is the cutest little junk shop; filled with all sorts of goodies to discover. The shop is run by a man who has a gentle spirit and a great big evangelical heart! What wonderful treasures we have found on ALL of our visits.

The problem was, we only had 15 minutes before the store closed for the day. Luckily, I am *fast.*

Our Little Beauty was blessed to be the recipient of a new snowsuit, straight out of the 70's! Now that she is walking, I am certain that she will want to play outside in the white stuff!

But, let's not talk about the *white stuff* just yet...here in New England, we are hoping to have an Indian summer. I'll tuck it away until then, you'll come back to see her in it, won't you?

Prayer Request Sunday

Hi friends, welcome to Prayer Request Sunday...

one of my favorite times of the week!

Can I pray with you today? I'd absolutely love to stand with you in prayer. Let's open our hearts together to God and see what He has for us. He is a giver of good gifts to His children, and I get so excited waiting to see how He is going to touch our lives.

I pray that each of you, who pops in to visit, is greatly blessed by the Lord. I would love it if you'd share what God is doing in your life. Life is so much richer if we open up and share our joys and sorrows, our hopes and plans, our desires and our hurts-together joining them to God's very heart.

On my heart:

Last week, I found myself head first into our homeschooling year.

It is a time of adjustments, a time to rededicate ourselves to study time and what the Lord has for us with this new 14th year of homeschooling. At times, I found myself stretched so thin that I wondered if there was any more of me that could *stretch.* By God's grace I didn't explode from the pull from my 5 students, plus an at home college student, plus our sweet Ethiopian babe in arms.

A few times the devil tried to sneak in and discourage me. He tried to make me think somehow we'd never be able to stay on task. That somehow, it would all begin to unravel, as I wasn't able to keep up with so much need all around me.

But, I decided not to focus on the *what if's* and instead think on who it is that I am and what it is that God has called me to. (I can easily fall into wanting to be perfect, wishing I was more like someone else that God is using, getting caught up in small things and losing sight of the BIG God picture). As my heart started to falter, or that discouragement rushed at me saying..."You aren't as good as..." I quickly began to speak:

I am doing as God has told me, I am fulfilling the call on MY life, I am more than a conqueror, I am a child of the King of kings, I can do ALL things through Christ that strengthens me, I will hope in the Lord and I will walk in obedience as He leads me....

I am asking God to help me to not look at others and grow discouraged. It is so hard when you are giving Him as much as you have and it seems in comparison to be like such a dinky little splash in the reality of LIFE. I want my life to make an impact, I want my life to scream *JESUS is LORD of my Life and He wants to be Lord of yours too!*

I need to find more time on my knees, so that He can work out the frailty and instead pour in His Power and Purposes.

*Please, help me Lord!*

An Orphan's Cry

Last week, I put my Orphan Dolls into the mailbox, they left on their journey with the Holy Spirit as their guide. I have to say that they have been an intricate part of my life since January, when God told me to *create them* in order to send them on their way.

Prior to them hopping into the parcel in which they'd begin their travels in, God spoke to me. I didn't realize that what He spoke, was actually another part of the Orphan Doll Ministry. I now understand why He told me the name of one of these girls and then dropped them into my life...it was my family's part of this ministry. You see, He is asking each of us to come to Him and say,

"Lord and what shall I do about Your orphans?"

As the tears rolled down my face at saying good-bye to the little cotton orphans that I had spent almost 9 months praying over (a pregnancy of sorts?); God hooked me up with a tangible way to fulfill another part of this mission to orphans.

So, what is my family doing about these two girls? Well, we are praying. Praying for us, for them and seriously asking God to move, as only He can. You see, God cares deeply about orphans, for the lonely, for the destitute, for those without a family. How do I know, well because He clearly speaks it in His Word.

“For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.” (Psalm 72:12)

If you want to take a peak at the Orphan Dolls website; it is here that we will follow their journey. It is here that we will see the Lord moving in Power; as He said He would.

More to come...

The Lesson Bike Riding 101

This sweet boy of mine...

Taught this sweet son of mine

how to:

to conquer this...

Believe me I tried. I had decided to wait one more year before giving King Bonkey another shot at no training wheels. However, King Meemer decided his brother needed to learn. King Meemer got out his toolbox, removed the wheels (as you can see the brace from the training wheels is still in place, waiting for Papa)....

and got his brother RIDING!

They both were so proud. Good job sons. But next time how about a helmet and some shoes? Luckily we have a really nice long driveway to ride on.

King Meemer, you definitely have a teaching gift and really accomplish so much with those tools of yours. Keep up the good work! I am also proud that on your brothers first day of riding, you let him beat you in your driveway race.

Your homeschooling teacher is very proud of you both!