Combine rides and elevator goings...

Today the kids got to go and ride the combine with our great friend(and who our pony is named after) Mr. Doug. They both enjoyed it immensely and are telling Tim about it. Luke also loved Paula's peppernuts. They each got a turn in the truck and experience dumping the grain. Luke kept saying, "the milo go bye bye in the elevator" He really enjoyed the whole experience and is learning his farm equipment. Thanks for a fun day Paula and Doug!

Thank You Sheri and company

Today my friend Sheri came by with her clan of 5. What a blessing their family is to ours!! The girls had catching up to do and one of her boys and our Laci Jo hit it off and were running around like crazy. They had a ball. I am thankful for Sheri's ministry to all women and what an example she is to me. The chocolate cake is a hot item here and so it will be devoured very shortly. Thanks for the blessing of the toys. Luke is enjoying them as I write.

Tonight Tim and I are going to try for our first outing since Luke's arrival. We'll see how he does. Hopefully being in our home and Laci being here will make it all right. I do need a night out with my sweet hubby! Just think we can talk!!!!

Tomorrow a man from Luke's orphanage is coming for brunch. I look forward to getting to know him and see how we can be of help to the kids still there. Have a great weekend.

The prayers of the righteous are powerful...

These past few weeks I have been praying for a friend with some potential health problems. This week she would find out what was going on. This morning as I was cooking and trying to stay in a constant state of prayer on her behalf the Lord brought Luke 8:50 to my mind, "Do not be afraid; just believe and she will be healed." I am amazed that this passage is even directed towards a girl. I was fearful for the path that this friend might have to walk and this just settled my spirit. I was reminded that as I prayed my ultimate prayer on her behalf was to heal her and then she could give God the glory. When I received the news that there was nothing suspicious found in her body I rejoiced because I believe God has healed her because of the prayers of those of us who love her. I know our bodies age but God is so good and wants to answer our earnest prayers. I was speechless and moved to tears. I am so THANKFUL for this answered prayer for my special friend.

This week I was asked if I feel differently for Luke than I do our biological children. The love is the same but the awe at how we got Luke never ceases to amaze me. I prayed for YEARS for other kids and then we got Laci. Then I wanted a sibling for her and never had one. My heart aches thinking if God had answered our prayers, we would not have Luke. I found a list of things I was praying for Luke since we knew we would adopt him. One of the requests was that he would have an affinity for acquiring our language with ease. I honestly look at how easily he has aclimated to us and know that this has nothing to do with us but with what the Lord plans on doing with Luke's life. We were told he has said he wants to be a pastor when he grows up. As I watched him play yesterday, I was overtaken by the thoughts that as I have always known our kids are not ours but gifts on loan waiting to work for Jesus. I was overwhelmed to think that God chose us LITERALLY to be Luke's family. We have always said we would be open to any adoption but God would have to drop him/her in our laps! He has done this for us. Also I wonder what God's plan for Luke's life is. He rescued him out of Haiti and now he is growing up here among us and I know God is going to use him in a mighty way. What a tremendous responsibility for us! Our other burden is getting Merilda. I just think that it would be such a blessing for them to be able to grow up together. I keep thinking of Matthew 19:26, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." We know that if God wants her here then she will get here and nothing can stand in the way. However, we know we will have to rebuke the enemy who will be fast on our heels to prevent this precious child from knowing Jesus and having an abundant life. Therefore I want to stay steadfast on Jesus who commands us to care for orphans.

As you seek the Lord, give him your hearts desire and if you have something that needs "fixing" from healing to finances to jobs to kids... Just Believe and God can take care of them in His time.

Blessings!
Ronda

It's Official...

It is official-we can no longer speak of Luke in front of him. Today Laci was saying that Luke wouldn't share Lexi(a little girl who was adopted by a family in Wichita. We watched her today) Luke pipes up and says, "Well Laci got to sit by her 2 times and I only sat by her 1 time." So I guess that means he is understanding pretty much all of what we say. I sat down and wrote all that he knows to add so we would not forget. He knows his name, his birthday, how old he is, his phone number, whose boy he is(the correct answer is Momma's boy), whose hunting buddy he is, whose baby he is, his colors(most of the time) and the names of all our pets(4 horses, 8 cats, 3 dogs) He sometimes gets the girls mixed up which is funny. He also is learning his sounds of the letters and that is helping his speech. We play a game where he says he needs to go to bed and I snuggle him and then I ask him a lot of questions about things. He is getting pretty good at it.

I attached some photos of the last few days. Of the shower items, he loves them all but I knew he would love his suit so thanks to Jennifer's crew for that! The orange shirt is from by brother's family. He looks really good in bright colors. Then we had Nee Nee here today and this is a picture of the kids. I am officially hooked on wanting to get Merilda. It would be so neat to have her here. Shelbie and Courtney are going to Haiti in May and so I look forward to the video and the pictures they will bring of her. We are praying for the Lord's provision of the inital cost to start her paperwork. I was told today by the coordinator we need about $1000.00 We have to file a I600 and also get fingerprinted for immigration and to prove we are not bad people. I think the Lord placed this desire here for us so we'll just have to see how he decides to provide.

My time at home is winding down for which I am very sad but I knew it would come to an end. I feel all postpartum at times and am sad as adjusting is hard yet I remember with each of the girls I loved getting to know them(as babies) and just not worrying about much. The showing of the house is going good but I am about worn out trying to keep it picked up. That is getting really old. Thanks for praying for us. I know the Lord is doing a great work and my time is not HIS.

More from today...

I keep having wonderful memories of today and want to add all that I remember. Thank you to "Aunt Velma" who gave an awesome comparison to our adoption in Christ and the adoption of Luke . If you are reading this and you are not adopted into the family of God through salvation, please post a comment and I will get to you. You don't want to miss out on this free, life changing and eternal gift from our Savior, Jesus Christ!

I forgot to thank Lesli for the great decorations and also to Paula who loaned her camera to Jason so he could take lots of pictures.

On another note, I wanted to record some cute sayings of the kids this weekend. Laci told me as we were leaving "See ya later at the showerbath!" I am guessing her Daddy made up some funny story of what we ladies do at showers to celebrate our weddings and our babies! We also play a game called "what we like about ...." It has to be a character trait and nothing physical about that person. Last night Laci and I were playing as we took a bubble bath in our Jacuzzi tub and she told me she liked that on Sunday I smell much better than I do on other days. So I apologize to those of you who have had to endure my odor as I was unaware.

Luke's greatest adjustment has been that he is slightly afraid he will be returning to Haiti at some point. We were filling a box to send to Haiti and I told him it would be going with Pastor Yves(Eve) to Haiti for the workers whom I listed by name. He told me very emphatically that "No, I am staying with my momma" So we now play a game about how Yves will come to our house, have dinner, look at Luke's room, toys, pony, bike, visit with Momma and Daddy and then we go to the door and wave goodbye Pastor Yves. He just laughs and says, "Luke your baby?" then I say forever and we kiss and hug and kiss and hug and giggle and kiss and hug. I can tell that he is starting to get it that he will always be here. I can see a difference in his security because he has realized this. Today as I left for the shower he yells bye Momma. That is an improvement from where we started. So he knows I'll be back.

I pray you have a blessed week with your loved ones and thanks again to ALL of you who are part of our lives.
Ronda

Luke and Josh on the left