The Splendiferous Life

It’s a roller coaster at times.

May 14, 2013 By Sherry 1 Comment

These last few weeks have been nothing but short of a miracle.

Seriously there are times when all I want to do is run away. SO the miracle is that I DON’T!!

I am so ready to go get our daughter..to hold her in my arms and love on her and to just tell her how much we love her…to bring her HOME forever.

Yes, adoption is alot like pregnancy in the fact that you do alot of waiting etc.

BUT I am going to be honest…pregnancy is alot easier..at least it is for me.

Adoption is lonely..I mean REALLY lonely. Unless your blessed with friends whom have gone through it…

People don’t abandon you when your pregnant. (usually)

When your pregnant you get to touch your belly everyday and feel your baby, with adoption you get to look at pictures and videos (if your blessed to have those)..I have been known to kiss my iPad screen at times.

I do have the weight gain…I am not known to be an emotional eater but man oh man..have you seen my butt lately..WOWZER!!!!!!!

I live on different time zones all the time..didn’t do that with pregnancy.

I check my email every 10 mins from about 4am – 11am EST. to see if there are any updates. Which I guess, is alot like pregnancy and having to go pee every 10 mins.

I cry at the drop of a hat..again like pregnancy.

There are days I just want to get in bed and not get out.

There are days when I am so overjoyed I can barely sit still. (those are on picture or email update days).

BUT the hardest part is feeling like no one cares..maybe it’s me. I don’t know.

We are in a complete different part in our lives and just trying to figure out where we fit…there are the 20-30 somethings starting their families..there are the people are age that are going to their kids high school graduations..we still have that yet to do with Luke and Mya..I already did that with my girls.

DO the 20-30 somethings want to hang with us?? MAYBE.. Do the people out of the small child stage want to hang with us…Not looking like it..

I know God is going to use our family in a way we won’t be able to comprehend…we have know this from the start. I am excited to see how He will orchestrate this…but I know it’s big. So we wait.

We are so blessed and so honored to be called by God to be the family for our sweet girl…I can’t imagine being anywhere else at the moment.

But I won’t lie it’s real hard at times…I mean HARD.

God has it all worked out…we just need to hold on.

I will apologize if I have committed to something and forgot..if I haven’t called or texted..I am known for taking on to much at times. This is what is happening now..there’s alot going on that I can’t share on here..not having to do with adoption…but it’s all at the same time…so overwhelmed over committed is where we are right now. I won’t even get into trying to raise the remainder of the money……Please pray for us.

SO…that’s kinda it in a nut shell, if any of this made sense at all. Yes…I have a very scattered brain and my thoughts and typing don’t always go hand in hand.

I know God has this..He has us in the palm of His hand..He will sustain us. He will provide..He will comfort only like He knows how.

To GOD BE THE GLORY in all of this…it is HIS STORY to unfold. I Just need to have FAITH..He will get us through…and to her very soon.

Filed Under: Adoption

Hear this..It’s an Update!!

April 29, 2013 By Sherry Leave a Comment

So many have asked about our journey to our girl.

After Grace went to be with Jesus, we went into prayer and fasting asking God,

what do you want us to do?

He kept over and over saying “Continue to move forward, I got this”.

So we did, we moved forward, waiting on God to show us.

One day while watching Luke at his school play, I let my mind wonder, but we won’t tell him that.

I felt God placing upon my heart a very specific name for a girl. (God ,knows exactly how to get my attention, names and numbers)

I loved the name, it is so pretty. So I tucked it away into my heart for later maybe.

Fast forward two days…I get an instant message from director of the baby home, she says we have a little girl her name is (L)…ummm wait!! what did you say????

It was the same name God gave me just two days earlier.

Ummmm….ok….can you give me more info on her. She does tell me her age at that moment…and we are not approved for that age…so I know I have to call the USCIS office to see how hard it would be to change this.

The director states she will be right back. In the mean time I start praying like crazy asking God is this her..are you sure?? I mean I need another sign (thank God He loves me, because I can drive Him crazy I am sure with all my request).

I said God you know I need something else…as if her name wasn’t enough. I say..ok if this is her then when I call the USCIS office to see if I can change our age range..either way it will be my answer as to what you want us to do. I call and the women on the phone states..It will be NO problem.

Ok God I get it, BUT…can you give me one more sign…the thing that will seal it for me..(I am sure he is rolling His eyes just about at that time).

You see for the last two years I keep seeing the # 10 20..every where..in address, times on the clock etc…but figuring its my birthday and all 10/20 that is more then likely why..

So she comes back on the phone I tell her that USCIS says it’s no problem etc.

She says…wait for it,,,,, wait for it…her birthday is 10/20..

SAY WHAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!

BAM!!!!!…here’s your sign.

So needless to say, we said YES!!!!

Now here we are, that was over two months ago.

We are beyond excited to bring our girl home.

There are still some mountains like finances, and a signature…but we are almost there.

We are waiting on one signature to arrive and we can submit to court, then get our date….as of this morning we are hoping that paperwork get’s there this week.

We still have quite a bit of money to raise…I hate putting all our stuff out there

but it is $5500.00. This is to pay the remainder of our attorney fee’s and in country fee’ s and travel while there.

God has shown us such favor in finances so far..but at the same time through

people in our lives He has told them that we need to be still and wait on Him for these finances He will make it happen stop with new fundraisers.

Well this girl has a VERY hard time doing that.

I feel I need to fund-raise…if I don’t then HOW will we get all this money.

I am taking what has been told and being still, plus I truly believe everyone

is so sick of hearing that I have another fundraiser, they are starting to de-friend me…lol

God has given me my little Etsy shop to help with raising the money.

I am so blessed by the orders that I have been getting…we are getting one step

closer to our girl…one cuff at a time.

We still have our puzzle fundraiser going on here.

I don’t know how we will raise the remainder $5500.00, I do know that I

need to wait on Him to direct me on if He wants us to do another fundraiser or not.

Right now He is saying, BE STILL!

Please pray with us that the remainder comes in soon, so we can go, when we get the court date..which we hope is coming in the next week or so.

Mothers Day is right around the corners as well, so head on over to my little store here.

If you feel led to help us bring our girl home, you can donate by clicking on the donate button below.

Filed Under: Adoption, Embrace Designs, etsy, Faith

I never knew the love of a father..

April 17, 2013 By Sherry 1 Comment

This post is raw and from the depths of my soul. With grammar errors and all.

Bare with me..

This last week we went to see Heidi Baker (she is so inspiring)..she is a missionary from Mozambique.

It was an amazing night..truly amazing. The worship was wonderful.

It was towards the end, as I was sitting there…the worship leader started singing

the song “The More I Seek You” by Kari Jobi.

I’ve heard it a thousand times…but this night was different.

I am 40+ and have NEVER known the love of an earthly father like a girl needs.

All my life, all I can remember is my dad being an alcoholic. I knew nothing else. He was there every night…but not there. I am sure if you grew up this way you understand.

I have some memories of him teaching me how to ride my bike, maybe going to lake…but nothing else good.

As I grew older, started a family, our relationship grew very strained.

He would call me at random times in my life and tell me what a miserable failure I was to him. I was not his daughter, he disowned me.

Then call ask for forgiveness (which I always gave)..then months later do the same thing….some things I just can’t repeat on here, but you wouldn’t say them to your worst enemy.

He tried to get my daughters involved in his hate for me..

That didn’t work, so he would come at me again..full hateful force.

The wounds have cut to the very core of my soul.

Since the time I gave my life to Christ I have learned to completely forgive my father.

I choose to not have a relationship with him, because of the pain and it just is not something I need in my life at this time.

But the desire to have an earthly father does not go away, EVER!

This last year and a half has been joyful, painful etc. I would love nothing more to have an earthly father to call and say daddy take care of this..daddy hug me…daddy wipe my tears.daddy lets go to lunch..daddy hold me, daddy are you proud of me.. That’s all a girl wants.

BUT….I don’t have that…

But that night during worship and listening to the song above…I felt my heavenly father take me in His arms, lift my chin up and say..I am proud of your, I love you, I will take care of it my daughter, I will wipe your tears, I am holding you and I am with you at lunch, ALWAYS.

I just about lost it…I completely came undone.

I might not have an earthly father in my life, but I have a heavenly father that loves me more then an earthly one ever will or could.

He is with me ALL the time, He never leaves my side. He gives me amazing gifts, He protects me, He guides me..He LOVES ME!!!

People might not understand my faith. But I can’t imagine a day without my heavenly father..my only regret is, I wish I would of know about him alot sooner. We have alot of catching up to do.

I love you daddy.

Hey daddy, you want to go play?

Filed Under: Faith

We Have a Winner!!

March 31, 2013 By Sherry Leave a Comment

We have a WINNER for our iPad mini fundraiser.

You can read about it here.

Look at all the cards

Drum Roll please……….

Ready!

Congratulations to Paul, he just got himself an iPad Mini. WHOOP WHOOP!

I want to thank each and every person, who has prayed, shared our story, shared this post and donated financially to our giveaway.

We are able to pay for half an airline ticket with this fundraiser, which is just huge for us..

Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. We love you.

Each and every one of you are part of bringing our little “L” home.

We are beyond grateful.

Filed Under: Adoption, Fundraiser

God even cares about PATIO doors!!

March 25, 2013 By Sherry Leave a Comment

What!!! Patio doors…what am I talking about you might ask?

We live in an older house and lets just say it’s been a work in progress for a very long time. Short name is money pit..remember that movie?? Yep that’s us.

As you know we are saving for our adoption and even 50.00 is alot right now.

But we knew we HAD to replace our patio door, not because we wanted a new one, but because, every time you walked by it my hair would blow…Seriously!! Not joking here.

It was literally rotting out of the frame.

We didn’t know what we were going to do…we didn’t/don’t have an extra 600.00 plus dollars…could we find a cheaper one? That was our quest.

We went to the Restore run by Habitat for Humanity..a used piece of junk was 150.00 and they didn’t work.

We went to Home Depot and yep..the cheapest one was about 380.00 (for a real cheaply made one) and another 379.00 for installation. WHAT are you kidding me..Lord help us!

So we trekked to another store..and still about 380.00-550.00.

We just didn’t know what we were going to do..

We drove to one last place while praying on the way, we were so frustrated, tired from all this house stuff. We just cried out Lord help us.

The hubster saw on Craigslist that they (84 Lumber) had a door that was put in wrong and had to be removed and returned to store, so they were selling it as is..

The original guy when we called a week before about is, said it was going to be 350.00.

Ummmmm..NO…it was damaged, wrong color and wouldn’t work.

The manager showed us another one, that was REALLY nice…the exact fit, everything we needed plus more.

But…. he had to check on price and was thinking around that 500.00 something point.

As he was looking for prices the hubster went to look across the store at other items, while I read the sign about AWESOME customer service, they pride themselves, its family run etc etc.

Nice manager says, “boy oh boy I can’t seem to find the price”

How about if you take it now, it’s yours for $100.00!!

Me-Wait…what did you just say?

Manager- $100.00

Me- choking on my own spit and holding pack the tears says YES YES YES we will take it now!! I really wanted to jump the counter and give this guy a huge hug and kiss but not sure he would of thought that was part of the deal.

I yell across the store to the hubsters…UMMM get the truck, he said 100.00 if we take it NOW..

The hubster had that dear in the head light look..

I give him that wife look…like what the heck you standing there for run like Forest Gump, dude just said we can have it for a $100.00.

The manager leaves to go get the fork lift…and right there in the middle of the store..cry out to The Lord giving Him ALL the GLORY. I could not hold the tears..we were in utter awe of His goodness.

With one swell swoop, He changes the price, just like that.. Because HE cares that much…yes our God cares about patio doors.

There is nothing He doesn’t care about, nor not want to be part of.

He wants to be part of every single detail of our lives.

A friend said, oh how I love to see God show off…boy, did He that day…because if He hadn’t, my hair would still be blowing in the wind.

Old Patio Door Removed.

We found dry rot after the patio door was removed…that’s a whole other story.

I have to say I have the best husband EVER…this man takes on every project (even if he doesn’t know how to do it) 100%.

Just about done.

This felt like it was one of the longest days of our lives..it was just us two tackling this job…

I will not confirm, nor deny, that I got into fetal position and cried that night.

14 hours later, everything that could go wrong did, but 11pm it was done.

To GOD BE THE GLORY, even in patio doors.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for loving us that much.

Filed Under: Faith

Having Faith in this Journey!

March 11, 2013 By Sherry Leave a Comment

This last year and half has been a true up and down road of emotions.

From hearing God’s heart 2011, to today being in the midst of an adoption.

It all started with a whisper from the Lord. We knew being sold out totally to what the Lord has for us, would not be an easy road all the time.

When we said “yes” to His call on our lives…we had NO idea that right now we would of seen nor have gone through what we have.

There has been joy, laughter and many tears.

Because, if we would have known what it was going to be like, we might just of said, we can’t handle that.

I mean losing a referral of a little boy, then losing another child to death, is really more then I thought I could handle…but God is truly good.

He gives a comfort like none other during these times.

Phil 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

It’s a true stepping out in faith.

2Cor 5:7 “For we live by faith, not by sight”.

Matt 17:20 “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

My faith is being tested I feel at every level these days.

God, how will we do this?

God, how will we get the money?

God, how will we handle the rejection of family and friends?

God, how do I deal with the loneliness?

How, How, How!!

He keeps saying..”Trust me my dear daughter “I” will do it. “ME” alone. I will deal with things for you.

But!!!!!! God how ever will we raise all the money?

My daughter, I did not bring you this far to leave you stranded. It will come.

BUT!!!!! God…what about????

No more “buts”

Being still is not one of my strong points.

I know that God has this, I know that He is taking care of our child until we can come and I know He will not leave us stranded to do this on our own devices.

I know there will be a time when we can look back at all the stress, heartache and go….oh, now I get it.

Please, don’t hear that this has all been stressful, because it hasn’t. He has blessed us with two amazing children (even for just a short bit) that we fell head over heels in love with. We have seen Jesus in the eyes of children. We have new family and relationships. We have been blessed beyond blessed. God has shown up time and time again in this journey.

The one thing we have learned is….

We are NEVER alone in our journey…He is ALWAYS right beside us, holding our hands, guiding us directing us. He is always working on our behalf.

All I need is FAITH!

Filed Under: Faith

The Heartache in a 3rd World Country.

March 5, 2013 By Sherry Leave a Comment

This morning I woke up to an instant message from a children’s home, stating that a little sweet boy was rushed to the hospital in Uganda in the middle of the night convulsing.

She does not know at this moment what is wrong. So we pray.

A typical day in an Uganda hospital is not like a typical day in our hospitals.

You see when power goes out there in a hospital, children die…when power goes out here, we have generators.

Children died last night because the power went out and their oxygen machines did not work. My heart aches…it aches so deep down inside I can’t barley stand it.

So I pray. Please pray with me for this sweet boy “S”.

Pray that the power does not go out…pray that someone with money, will step up soon and get the hospital generators.

Pray that this children’s home will have a complete healing of ALL the children and they won’t have to go to the hospital.

Oh how my heart grieves…I am actually angry that I even have to write this post. WHY WHY WHY do we have to worry about power going out..WHY WHY WHY do innocent children have to die..

Not actual hospital.

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding.

Filed Under: Africa

UPDATE!!! iPad Mini Fundraiser/Giveaway!!!

February 24, 2013 By Sherry 3 Comments

+++++UPDATE+++++

ONLY 9 left!!!!! 2 days until drawing..YIPPEE!!! Can you believe it…2 more days until drawing….please pass this along…Thank you for all your support.

Me and fundraisers don’t always go hand in hand. They’re something that is a little harder for me to do. I love helping people with theirs but for me and ours it’s just plain hard.

But it’s not about if I feel comfortable or not, it’s about bringing home a little treasure.

Our friends had a fundraiser this weekend for us and we raised 800.00..YIPPEE!!! So thankful God turned around what we thought would not be a good turnout into something awesome. We got to share our story and that is what was important.

We were so blessed to have a wonderful family donate the needed funds to send our attorney the first of the deposit needed. Oh how blessed we were when they said they wanted to help…we would not be in the process with the attorney if God had not stirred their hearts to help us. We love you sweet friends and are beyond blessed and grateful.

We still have alot to raise so we will be having a few more fundraisers one being

a dinner/silent auction next month as well, which we are VERY excited about…

We too have our puzzle fundraiser going on over HERE, if you would like to take part in that. (thank you to all who have so far)

But right now we are able to offer a giveaway for an iPad Mini..yep an iPad Mini.

Here is how it works… we will have 52 tickets for this giveaway..WOW..those are some good odds..

1 in 52 chance of winning…

1 Ticket=25.00

2 Tickets= 50.00 so on and so on until 52 are sold.

Each person will get a playing card assigned to them with their name on it.

When all 52 cards have been sold we will draw a winning card or March 30th or as soon as they are all sold whichever comes first.

You can keep it for yourself or give it as a gift..

We would appreciate it if you could spread the word for us as well…

Let’s get these tickets SOLD..then we can draw the winner.

Whose going to be the first one..mark get set GO!!!

JUST CLICK DONATE BUTTON BELOW TO DONATE TO THIS FUNDRAISER OR IF YOU WOULD JUST LIKE TO DONATE.

Thank you for all your support!

Thank you so much for your continued support in bringing our treasure home to their FOREVER family.

We love you all.

Please know that all donations go to our adoption.

Filed Under: Adoption, Fundraiser, giveaway, ipad mini

I HUGE thank you to YOU!!!

February 23, 2013 By Sherry Leave a Comment

There are times in your life when people come into it and change you as a person and make your life a WHOLE LOT brighter.

To these I want to thank.

Adoption is a loooooonnng road to say the least…and there are those that truly understand that process…

I have come to realize that although the waiting of this adoption feels like torture most days yet it is precisely because of that waiting that I have made some wonderful new friends and connections.

They are my lifeline. Nobody understands the pain of waiting like another adoptive mommy. It’s pure therapy to reach out to them and know they honestly, 100% get it. God is so good to remind us that we are never alone and that He is with us each and every step.

One such friend is Jessica…we met while on a mission trip to Uganda..LOVE HER!!!!

She has been my adoption ROCK!!!!! She was the first one I called the day we found out about our little girl (other then the hubster)..because she too understands loss in adoption…she cried with me, she prays for us, she is ALWAYS there.. with just a phone call away…and she LISTENS…she makes me laugh and cry…we can get frustrated in the adoption process and it is OK!! Not sure what I would of done without you those days sweet friend.

I love you Jessica for always being there, for your ever present friendship…I can’t wait till the day we have our little ones home..Just so you know I will drive to see you..hope you have room .

Then there are those whom you have NEVER met in person, but if you did, you know that you would be the best of friends and it would be as if you knew each other all your lives…

This is my friend Debbi..she is an adoptive mom herself.

I can’t even put into words how I feel for her..truly an amazing woman…she has been such a supporter of my little Etsy shop..she has loved me unconditionally through EVERYTHING…she has given SACRIFICIALLY. She has been such an encouragement to me and her love in never failing. I Love you Debbi…truly deep heart felt LOVE.

My friend Saundra who has been up early in the mornings with garage sales…baking until she can’t bake anymore, my prayer warrior and her friendship..I LOVE you Sweet friend. There are not enough words for your friendship.

I am truly blessed to have these women in my life..GOD always knows whom and what we need right at the right time.

He NEVER ceases to amaze me…Thank you Lord for these ROCKS in my life.

My Friends Reny, Elizabeth and Ashley, too have been so incredible in this whole journey..I thank you for ALL your support.

Take the time today to thank the women that have been your rocks in the journey of life..God gave them to you..Thank Him too.

Filed Under: friendship

UPDATE!!!! Yes.. adoptions questions answered!

February 21, 2013 By Sherry Leave a Comment

Some have asked, so we are here to answer.

Are you still adopting?

Yes, we are in the process of being matched.

Are you still fundraising?

YES!!!!!

How can we help you?

Well let me answer that…

We have been in a lot of prayer these last two weeks as we move forward on our adoption journey..

It has been very clear from the start that this is the journey The Lord has us on and we will not deter from that..God blessed us with Grace for the short time He did for a reason and that reason was to completely open our eyes to His love and our love for the orphan and we will NOT stop. I truly believe we will be matched soon with a child/ren..we can’t wait to see how God moves on behalf of His child/ren..so blessed to be walking this journey..I can’t imagine being anywhere else but right smack dab in the middle of His call.

We had two fundraisers going at the same time…one the Puzzle pieces and one the iPad mini giveaway.

They are both still going on..we still have a very large amount of money that is needed, roughly $13,000 left. It sounds like a ginormous amount but we serve a HUGE God!

We are truly blessed to those whom have donated so far..we truly can’t express enough how much this means to us.

You are part of bringing home one child at a time…we are beyond blessed.

We are selling pieces of a 1000 piece puzzle at 10.00 each you can read about it here!

We are still using the same puzzle, as our little Grace is part of this amazing journey, she will always be in our hearts and life forever.

so far we have sold 20 pieces.

WE too, have an amazing iPad mini fundraiser going on as well..you can read about that HERE! We are selling 52 tickets at 25.00 each, we will pull a name March 30th..25 left…these are GREAT odds.

I too make and sell my jewelry, to help raise the money needed as well..

Thanks to all my customers for the continued support.

Click on the pic and it will take you to post on this as well.

So as you can see we are still adopting and fundraising. It’s not ALL about the money…God is in control and He does provide..He has just asked us to having a willing and open heart..and we said yes!!!!

The bible does say “Faith without works is dead” in James 2:17..

I believe this..we do have Faith that God will provide, but that doesn’t mean we sit on the side line and do nothing. So we fundraise..

It is because of our friends and the body of Christ. All your donations, gifts and prayers, that we can do this.

We are forever grateful and humbled. Please tell our story…this adoption journey isn’t our story, it’s God’s story.

Won’t you shout it from the roof tops..

Thank you for being part of His story!!

Filed Under: Adoption, Fundraiser

The Splendiferous Life

It’s a roller coaster at times.

Hear this..It’s an Update!!

I never knew the love of a father..

We Have a Winner!!

God even cares about PATIO doors!!

Having Faith in this Journey!

The Heartache in a 3rd World Country.

UPDATE!!! iPad Mini Fundraiser/Giveaway!!!

I HUGE thank you to YOU!!!

UPDATE!!!! Yes.. adoptions questions answered!

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