Mother's Day

I rarely post here these days, but I wanted to take the opportunity to thank my wife, Keri, for being such a wonderful mother and wife.  I think back to July 23, 2007 standing in that hot room on the second floor of the social services building in Wuhan.  We saw the back of Eden's head over the shoulder of her caregiver for the first time and all that waiting finally became real. Frankly I was just out of it--excited, but thinking too much to be feeling anything.

Keri, on the other hand, was full of emotion that ran the gamut. She laughed, she cried. Eden cried mostly.  I think any parent has doubts about whether they are up to the task. I certainly did walking out of that room and back to the bus, our adopted daughter in hand for the first time.  I never had any doubt of Keri, though. She has been a wonderful wife, and that day she added "mom" to her title and I have never ceased to be amazed the skill, talent and love she brings to that role.

So to moms on Mother's Day, thank you.  To my wife on Mother's Day, thank you, I love you, and I can't wait for the Uganda side of our family expansion in the coming months.  And I promise to pick my stuff up off the floor more often.

Uganda is a GO!!

Hello all...I bring wonderful adoption news today for literally millions of orphans in Uganda, East Africa...God is making a way, sweet babies. The US Department of State issued an official statement on their website yesterday saying the issues with travel visas for adopted children in Uganda has been resolved. I won't go into all the details, but let's just say this is very, very good news. I am humbled by our Lord's defense of the fatherless...overwhelmed really.

In the light of the awful news about Russian adoptions, the timing of this act of God couldn't be more perfect. I know He will move on behalf of those Russian little ones, too...He doesn't play favorites.

So what does this mean for our family? It means we will continue our home study for Uganda next month, Lord willing. We had some unexpected expenses over the past few months that caused us to slow down, then the paperwork issues arose, so we have just been waiting. The Lord has provided for our every need, and then some. And my husband gently reminded me last night that he is confident God will provide for this adoption, too...we will proceed on His timing.

Please pray for us as we walk this journey. I want to be transparent...and I have been learning some tough lessons over the past weeks about sacrifice and choices. If we are going to adopt, where we are financially, choices will have to be made and some comforts will have to be given up. Because we are choosing not to go into any more debt to adopt, this means cutting back on a lot of little extras (eating out, movies, Starbucks, those little house purchases at Target, etc.). I don't know why this is so hard for me, but it is. I'm not naturally bent towards being thrifty, so the small daily things are hard for me to give up. But there is no room for excuses for us who profess to follow Christ...there are 147 million orphans in the world...30,000 children die daily from hunger and curable diseases. I desire to live on behalf of these. This sounds great to say...but in reality I don't do this most of the time. And I can't do it in and of myself.

I don't know how all of this will look yet. I don't want to hastily make a list and start slashing all of my expenses...because that's just me trying to sanctify myself...and the focus then will be me...and what I'm "giving up." Self-discipline is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5) and I have a feeling that will be my personal journey in this adoption process. With Eden's adoption, I learned so much about God's love and His character...this time my journey seems to be so different. I know the Lord desires to do a great work in us as we walk this faith road of adoption...and I want to learn...I desire to know Him more...my Spirit is willing but my flesh is weak...but my God is sufficient...and He is such a good Shepherd.

So what's my plan? To simply draw near to the heart of my Maker...and let Him lead me and teach me. Combined with the TOUGH work of actually obeying what He shows me. This is where I am.

My heart is full today...can you tell? I am excited about the journey ahead. Even this early, my heart is beginning to yearn for a child (or children) that the Lord may have created already for our family. I will pray the same prayer I prayed 4 years ago for a then-unknown little angel in China...Lord, give us this child (or children), and do it in such a way that only You get the glory...Amen.

Mason Family Update

Hello everyone! I don't have any news to report on the adoption front. Even though the high court issued the favorable ruling regarding guardianship and adoption, the US Embassy still hasn't started issuing travel visas...so it's still at a stand-still. We are trusting in the Lord as we wait on His timing and direction in regards to Uganda. We have decided to continue with the Georgia portion of our home study next month, after we get our taxes paid. This part of the home study will be the same, even if we end up having to change countries (which we don't anticipate at this time). Please continue to pray for the precious orphans in Uganda...and all around the world, for that matter. God CAN and DOES trump beurocracy!

So, it's been a while since I just did a family update...so here it goes! A lot has been going on in our little family. The winter was LONG and COLD! We have been super-busy since the weather warmed up and Spring has sprung. Below is a picture/update.

We got a really good snow in February. It was so beautiful. Both of my girls, Eden and the dog Maggie, had a blast playing.

Eden walked up to me and said, "Look mommy, I spelled horse." After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I seriously began thinking/praying about home schooling starting in the fall. I'm looking forward to the home school conference and expo at the end of this month in Atlanta where I can get more info and look at curriculum. More on this later...

Guess who turned 40 in March? I surprised my hubby with an overnight stay at Chateau Elan, followed by friends over for ice cream cake the next night. When we got home from our night away, Eden and my mom had made him a cake, decorated the house, and placed signs and black balloons in the yard. Eden was SO EXCITED!

Eden and I have really been making new friends lately at our church...especially with the sweet ladies in mine and Gene's new small group (Gene teaches it). We attended a big Easter party and egg hunt a couple of weeks before Easter. Here is Eden with her loot! Somebody please make her stop growing!!!

We had a wonderful couple of days with my sister and nephew playing at our house when they were in town the week of Easter. Camp LOVED Eden's pink barbie car...we won't tell his dad...LOL!

Look daddy...hee, hee, hee...Matt would DIE!

Eden with her Easter basket. I decided against candy since she had already gotten some at the other egg hunt. She is so into soccer right now so she got soccer gear & new PJ's. We always give her a basket the night before Easter (she knows it's from us)...we "play" the Easter bunny...so that when she wakes up on Easter morning, her basket isn't the focus.

Easter morning on our front porch before we left for church. The other day Eden opened one of her plastic eggs and said, "Look daddy, it's empty...just like the tomb!" I then asked her, "Eden, where is Jesus now if He isn't in the tomb?" She answered, "He's in heaven sitting by His daddy praying for us." My prayer is that this knowledge she is learning will go from her head to her heart...I can plant and water these seeds of truth, but only the Lord can cause them to grow!

Hunting eggs in our yard on Easter.

Then it was time for soccer. "This is how you have to stand when you are the goalie, Mommy," Eden said as she demonstrated. Notice the socks she found and put on.

Then out came the sprinkler and bathing suit...with goggles.

Of course Eden had to bring our 11-year-old lab into the fun...this child needs a sibling!

But until then, sweet Julia from across the street is Eden's favorite playmate. Julia is 6 and they love to play together. She came over and joined in the fun!

This cracked me up...they laid their towels out and chatted. Then they ran inside and got books to "read" while they laid in the sun...like big girls.

So that's what we've been up to lately. Eden is growing up so fast and I feel so humbled to be her mom and have the opportunity to be home with her so I don't miss a thing. The Lord has been teaching me a lot lately...and I hope to have time to share some of that in another post soon. Until then, have a great week.

Praise the Lord!

Sorry for the delay in updating you...but I have great news regarding adoption issues with the US Embassy in Uganda. Please read below...this is taken straight from my agency's blog:

"Today in Uganda, the chief justice gave judges permission to rule on legal guardianships and state that they understand it is for the purposes of adoption! This should set a precedent for future families; now judges have the confidence to state their complete understanding of the children’s adoption in the US and their dual citizenship status.

Because this happened today, there have been no families yet go through the Embassy. The next step will be ensuring that this statement will align with what the US Embassy will require to issue an immigrant visa for children who have been granted legal guardianship. I will update as we know how the Embassy will view this latest development.

Today, we are thankful for God’s favor and provision! This is a giant step forward in the resolution process!"

That may not make much sense to those of you who don't know the full picture of what was going on over there...but to put it simply...God is for the orphan!!! The court has ruled to allow guardianship paperwork to be worded in such a way that meets the requirements of the US Embassy, so travel visas can be issued for the little ones and they can come home with their new mommies and daddies and complete the adoption once home. This is huge!

How huge? Well, there are 2.3 million orphans in Uganda...let that number sink in...2.3 million. Just to give you perspective, the population of metro-Atlanta, the city where I live, is about 3 million...that's how many orphans there are in Uganda. The total population of the country is a little over 32 million...and it's the size of the state of Oregon. If you do the math, that means more than 7% of the population are orphans.

To drive this truth home, let's look at the United States. There are about 500,000 children living in foster care right now. Not all of these are orphans, but I will use that number because it is the closest comparison we have. Our population is 300 million. Do the math...that is 0.001666 % of our population. Or, one tenth of one percent.

Now, please hear my heart. EVERY hurting and orphaned child is equally precious to the Lord. He sees and knows each one, down to the number of hairs on their heads, no matter where they are from. I only share these numbers so that those of you who have never traveled and seen first-hand the needs of orphans in third-world countries will have a point of reference to understand what a huge VICTORY God accomplished in Uganda today. There is such great need for adoption in this east African country! This simple issue with wording of paperwork could have halted US adoptions in that country. But no, God would not have it. Why? Because He is FOR the orphan!

We must keep praying, though. The Embassy still has to approve the ruling. You may not be called to adopt from Uganda, but you can pray...and we are all called to do that! And there are 2.3 million little reasons to pray...

Now, for a quick update on our adoption journey. After much consideration and prayer, Gene asked that we "pause" our home study until we could save some money. Right when he told me this, we found out about the paperwork problem in Uganda, so we have spent the last 6 weeks looking at finances, working on our budget, praying...and if I'm honest, I have been worrying...just being honest. I am so thankful for my husband's leadership in this area. He has such a steady confidence in God's provision for this adoption, coupled with a balance of the practicality of finances.

So, where are we now? Well, we are more excited than ever to pick up our home study. Unfortunately, we unexpectedly owe Uncle Sam some tax money, so we are choosing to wait a little longer to continue. God has graciously provided in every way. For those of you who have given to us through Ornaments for Orphans and other means, please know this money is tucked securely in savings, and will be used ONLY for the adoption. We are so thankful.

Our next step is to pray, pray, pray, continue to see where we need to sacrifice financially, and put our thinking caps on for more fundraising ideas. I will do better about keeping you posted. Thank you all for your support and prayers! They are needed, appreciated, and felt. Love you all.

URGENT!

I don't have the time or the information yet to go into a lot of details...but please pray for all orphans in Uganda right now. Due to beaurocracy and government red tape, there has been a halt on the U.S. issuing any visas for adopted children to travel back home. I don't know all the details yet, but our agency's blog said there will be some kind of hearing in the next couple of days that should let us know what is going on and how these new laws/wording of laws will affect adoption from Uganda.

I believe that this is a spiritual battle...I really do. Please pray for God's grace and mercy to prevail...His justice to change hearts so that Ugandan children can be adopted and brought home. Right now children are adopted through a loop hole...adoptive parents are issued guardianship, the US issues the child a visa, and then the children are adopted legally once they arrive home in the US. In order to adopt IN Uganda, the child must be fostered for 3 years.

Needless to say, these semantics and red tape have the power to change millions of little lives forever. I know God's heart is FOR the orphan and FOR adoption. We MUST cry out to Him. Please join in prayer.

Humbled to Tears

If you have been reading the blog over the past month or so, you know that we are in the adoption process again to bring a little one home from Uganda. I have struggled with fear over the financial details of this adoption (as most people probably do) a lot, and am constantly handing it all back over to the Lord...my worry in exchange for His peace. I asked the Lord to do a miracle that only He can get credit for...so my post today is to brag on Him and Him alone!

This past month Gene and I have decided to slow down our home study process and wait on the Lord financially. We are trusting Him to provide the funds so that we do not have to go into debt for this adoption. Right after we made that decision, we have had to pay out $1,000 for car repairs, a broken heater at home, car tags, etc. I have been overwhelmed to say the least.

So a few days ago I went to check the mail and found a letter from a friend that I went to South Africa with. She wrote inside that she is weeks away from getting married, and in lieu of gifts, she asked her friends to donate to our adoption, along with some other causes/needs. I began to weep...what an incredibly selfless thing to do. I honestly was humbled to my knees. There were several checks folded up inside and I began to open them...$200...$400...$600...$650...$695...my hands shook in disbelief. Wait...maybe that said $20, not $200, so I recounted. Nope, I saw right. These precious people, many of whom I don't even know, had given us $695 towards our adoption! And as if that wasn't enough, I got another check in the mail today from someone who couldn't attend the shower where the money was collected.

I have always heard stories of people opening the mailbox and receiving some large amount of money from an anonymous donor...but that has never happened to me. To be honest, I always secretly wondered if these stories were true. This one is!

I share this to give glory to God, the defender of the fatherless. I was beginning to question whether or not we were even supposed to adopt...His answer came quickly with a resounding "Yes." How could it not be His will to adopt an orphan based on His words in James 1:27?

There may or may not be more miracles like these in our journey...but I think there probably will be. I think that's what happens when we wait on Him to move instead of finding our own way. First, He gave us great success with our Ornaments for Orphans drive at Christmas...and now this unexpected gift. He seems to be providing just enough for the next step, causing us to depend on Him mightily.

I think about how far-reaching it is when God's Church believes and lives out His words that it is better to give than to receive. When one young bride in Alabama chose to give up wedding gifts it is reaching all the way to other side of the world. When I finally pulled myself together and quit weeping I thought, "How can I even express my gratitude? Thank you doesn't seem like enough." Then I thought about bringing my newly adopted African child to meet this special couple for the first time and saying, "This is what you helped to do." I'm sure that will be all the thanks she will need or ever want...and I'm sure she will never regret giving up place settings or linens in exchange for a life that God created for His glory.

Now THAT is what I call a thank you note!

Don't Be Afraid

Eden is watching Nick Jr. right now while I do some housework. In between the shows, they have this little band that plays songs. She just ran up to me and said, "Mommy, I am going to sing this song to my baby sister in Africa!" She began singing in the sweetest Eden voice, "Don't be afraid, I'm here with you...."

It warms my heart to see how sensitive Eden is to her future little sister's transition. As a four year old, Eden's prayers and concerns are always that the little one not be afraid. God can move even the littlest of souls to pray. Having been through this hard transition at 19 months of age, I think this is so good for her to see the process from this side.

One thing is for sure...this Ugandan angel is already wanted and loved and missed by her Chinese big sister...and her mommy and daddy!

On another note, Eden startled me this morning with perhaps the toughest question she has asked to date. My deep-thinking 4-year-old looked me straight in the eye out of the blue and asked, "Mommy, who made the earthquake in Haiti?" I know the answer, but how do you explain it honestly and simply to a preschooler? Any suggestions?

A Miracle

This morning I was spending some time in prayer, writing in my journal. I told the Lord that I wanted Him to do a miracle in this adoption that could not be explained by Gene and me...something that was unmistakably Him. Thoughts of what it could be were swirling around in my mind and then I felt that small whisper of the Holy Spirit saying, "Don't try and figure it out...don't even write anything down...just wait...your ideas are too small." Chills run down my spine as I ponder this prayer. Sometimes I think we spend so much time trying to figure out what God is doing or telling Him what we think we need or want, that we box Him in. Yes, the Word definitely says, "Ask and you shall receive," but lately I'm finding that even what I ask can be so small...just enough, and not abundant. Scripture says He is able to do MORE than what we can ask or even imagine. That's what I long to see...more than I even can fathom. So, I proceed down this road of faith with an expectant heart...I can't wait to see what He does, both in my heart, and in the orphan He will rescue. Stay tuned...

The Home Study has Begun

Well, it's official...I'm paper pregnant! Gene and I had our first home study interview this past Thursday with our GA social worker. I received the jump drive in the mail that contains the adoption manual on it. In a throw back to our last adoption, we printed out all 126 pages and stuck it in a big, fat binder....aka, Bertha...that's what I have named the adoption manual. Why? Because she will be everywhere I go for the next year or so, making her an official member of the family...thus, she needs a name :0)

I read Bertha in her entirety on Wednesday night before our phone interview so I would know if I had any questions. Pretty standard...fingerprints (3 sets), medical exams, documentation that I'm alive, married, have never been arrested, have no warrants out for my arrest, passports, photos, biographies, educational readings, financial records, proof of employment, proof of unemployment...the list goes on. Whew...it's a lot!

I expected to feel overwhelmed. But I don't. I feel this strange sense of calm. I feel excitement and eagerness. I've done this before. I know there is likely to be delays and hiccups...and I know that at the end of all of it there's a child, or children, that God has hand-selected. Wait, no, not hand selected, created, for our family. I believe that. I see the reality of it every day with Eden.

So bring on the paperwork, the invasion of privacy, the fund raising and budget cutting. Bring it! I love it! I love adoption. While the process is certainly frustrating at times, I will not lose the joy and hope I feel. A baby is coming home at the end of this. God is going to unite a family in the way that only He can. That's what will drive me and keep me on my knees before the Lord. His grace poured out on the orphan...that is why I love my home study.

Well, Bertha and I have an appointment with a passport application for Eden so I guess I'll go. More updates soon.

P.S. Remind me of this post when I complain later on..he, he, he...yall know what I'm talking about. Today I love my home study.

My Baby is 4

Why does time have to move so fast? I am resolving in 2010 (and I'm serious about this one) to simplify life even more so I don't miss the most important moments due to busy-ness. This will be a good journey for me as we prepare to add another little one to the family this year.

But, back to the business at hand. I'm a little late with this post due to traveling and having company here, but Miss Eden turned 4 on Sunday. She is such a big girl. I never knew watching your child grow up would be so wonderful and sad at the same time.

Eden's birthdays trigger a strange mix of emotions for me. I wonder if I will ever get over the grief I feel over her not being home yet on her 1st birthday...as we celebrate, the candles on the cake never match the memories of past birthdays. It's strange. We matched with her about 2 weeks before she turned one. We had her photo, which made Dec. 27, 2006 a very hard day. These feelings then lead to questions about her foster mother who cared for her from 3 mos. old until 19 mos. when we brought her home. I wonder if every year on Dec. 27 she grieves that she ONLY had one birthday with her? She and Eden loved each other so much. I can't help but think of her each year on adoption day and Eden's birthday. I am so grateful for the way she loved my daughter.

However, there is much more joy than sadness. I am so blessed by this little treasure every day of the year. I just love celebrating her life and all that God has done for and in her in 4 short years. This year, she wanted a party with all her cousins. So, we had a bowling party complete with Backyardigans decorations and cupcakes and all her cousins came. Eden's first time bowling was quite funny...as it took her ball FOREVER to make it to the pins because she insisted on doing it "all by myself." It was a fun day. The highlight was the hot pink Barbie Jeep my mom and step-dad gave her that morning. Thanks Ja-Ja for standing in line at 4 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving to get it...she LOVES it!

Here are some things about Miss Eden in her 4th year of life, followed by some pictures. Hope you all have a Happy New Year!

1) Eden talks...all the time...even if no one is listening
2) She loves to read
3) She loves to play with her daddy
4) She is a great helper around the house and loves doing her "chores"
5) Her chores are setting the table, feeding the dog, and picking up her toys before bedtime
6) She still comes in our bed in the middle of the night...most of the time I never wake up...in the morning she's just there
7) She loves Micky Mouse Clubhouse, Wonder Pets, Backyardigans, Dora and Diego
8) She is very tender-hearted...she burst into tears when the mean guy trapped Kevin the bird in the movie "Up"
9) She is still scared of anything dark...we have yet to see a movie in the theater due to this
10) She loves Sprite
11) She cracks herself up all the time
12) She has an amazing memory
13) So far she has learned: Matthew 6:24, Genesis 1:1, Proverbs 3:5, Isaiah 30:15, Psalm 1:6...all in the month of December
14) She LOVES art and music
15) She takes ballet
16) She is girlie, but loves to get dirty, too
17) She gets really mad when she can't figure something out
18) She adores her cousins
19) She prays from her heart
20) She can't wait to be a big sister
21) God has given her a heart for orphans
22) Her favorite color is pink
23) She loves all kinds of soup...especially vegetable
24) She copies everything I do
25) Today, she says when she grows up she wants to be an artist...or maybe drive the train to the circus for the animals :0)

That's all for now...enjoy the pictures. I don't have the party ones yet so these will have to do. Happy 2010!

What we bought Eden for her 1st b'day while she was still in China

2nd birthday

3rd birthday

4th birthday

Guess Who Came To Town???

Eden and I have already come to my mom's house for Christmas. We miss daddy, but he has to work at the Christmas Eve services at our church tomorrow night so he can't join us until Christmas Eve. Well, last night we had a big family dinner with all my siblings and their children, my parents and my grandmother. After dinner we all gathered into the den to chat, when all of a sudden we heard a "clatter" on the front porch...we all listened to see what was the "matter." When what to our wondering eyes did appear? Guess who came to visit us early?

We heard the jingling of bells and a big "Ho! Ho! Ho!" Eden sprang up...I mean sprang up and ran into the arms of...SANTA! It was such a sweet surprise. He even brought a kiss from Rudolph that lit up Eden's nose red!

After she sat in his lap and everyone got pictures made, we all sat down and he read us "Twas the Night Before Christmas." When he asked her what she wanted for Christmas she replied, "A jumproap and a clock for my wrist in case I can't find my Dora one but if I find my Dora one I don't need it." Whew...what a mouthful!

Before he left, he told us about the one gift that even Santa can't bring...eternal life; and how it makes him sad when people make a bigger deal out of him than Jesus. He reminded us of the real reason for Christmas. It was a special memory.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. Until next time, enjoy these photos.

Eden when she heard the bells...

When she realized who it was...

Eden greeting Santa...

They had quite the conversation...

A Kiss from Rudolph

One last hug...

My Meemaw's 1st photo ever with Santa

My nephew Camp...just because he is so cute!!!

Eden & all her cousins (except Julie who had her wisdom teeth out) with Santa

Eden's Prayer

"Father, thank you for my baby brother and sister in Africa. Help them to be brave while they are away from our family. Help them to be brave when we come to get them. Help them to know me and love me. Amen."

Is it possible that God is preparing the heart of an almost 4-year-old in ways that I cannot imagine? Listening to her prayers each night, I can't help but think that no one knows how to pray for the one we will adopt better than she does.

There are many unknowns at this point, many unanswered questions. I think that God is telling us to walk on in faith, amidst the unknown, and listen for His voice daily. More than ever before we are trusting Him as Provider. One thing I know...He adores orphans and wants to place them in a family...and most of all in His family.

Do you realize that this is why we celebrate Christmas? He came to adopt us all. Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

Thank You, Thank You!

Do you want to know why I haven't posted in a while? It's because you guys bought SO MANY ornaments for our adoption fundraiser. Thank you all so much for supporting us...we are so grateful and humbled. My hot-glue gun has been working overtime. Some precious new friends, the Shackelfords, even came to help me out. I am finally caught up on orders...there is still time if you want to order. Just click on the Ornaments for Orphans tab to the right. The video of Eden is priceless! I'm sure she is why we sold so many :0)

We had a welcome phone call with our adoption agency today where we could ask questions and hear more specifics about the Uganda adoption process. Gene and I were really excited when we hung up. God is already making some things really clear to us even now that we were questioning. Age, gender and number of children are some things we are praying through in the coming weeks. Right now we are leaning toward 1 child, but we obviously will change that if God tells us to.

We are settling in and enjoying our new home. I love the Christmas season and all that it represents. Here are some photos of what we're doing this holiday season. Thank you all again for your support and love.

Snowman and reindeer ornaments galore

These reindeer are made from lightbulbs

Eden and I made our first gingerbread house...not as easy as they advertise

Eden with her house

Eden eating her house...the best part!

Ornaments for Orphans

Hey everyone...hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving. As promised, the Christmas ornament fundraiser is ready to go. Just in case you haven't been following the blog, let me back up and bring you up to date.

We are hoping to adopt again! Our prayer is that God would give us a little blessing (or blessings) from Uganda, Africa sometime next year. I traveled to South Africa this past summer and saw first-hand the needs of the poor there. We haven't been to Uganda, but have several friends who have. Eden has been begging for a "baby sister and baby brudda" ever since she saw "Big Sister Dora" a year and a half ago (LOL). I'm not sure she really knows what she's asking for...but I know she'll be a great big sister.

I really struggled with the timing of this adoption, to be honest. You can read about that a few posts down. God is going to have to move some pretty big mountains financially, and we know He can and will do that if this is His will for our family. I wanted to do a fundraiser that was both affordable for people and involved our daughter as much as possible...hence, Ornaments for Orphans.

You can click on the link on the right side of the blog to get all the info. Eden has helped me hand-make some Christmas ornaments for you to buy. Each ornament is $10.

I know there are many times when I have small gifts I need to get like teacher gifts, extended family, dirty Santa, etc. I always end up getting some small little gift that costs about $10, so I thought maybe if people were already going to spend the money, maybe it would bless the giver and receiver to know that the $10 really will help change a baby's life forever. You have my word that 100% of the money we receive will be deposited directly into our adoption savings account.

Each ornament will include an enclosure card that tells about our adoption so the recipient will know it's more than a Christmas ornament. Thank you all so much for loving and supporting us on this journey. If you have any questions, just post here or e-mail me at kerimason@mac.com.

When you click on the "Ornaments for Orphans" tab on the right, it will take you to the web page. You can pay online with paypal, or e-mail me your order and I will send you the info to mail a check. Please feel free to put the link on your blogs/facebook too, or give our blog address to anyone you think might want to help...the more the merrier!

There is an adorable video of Eden when you get to the site. She will give you all the details. Hope to hear from you soon! Thank you again. God bless!

I'm Thankful For....

Happy Thanksgiving! Today I am thankful for:

1) That Jesus loves me and accepts me as I am...even with all my shortcomings and faults.
2) That because of this, I am free to love and accept others the same way.
3) For my husband. I don't always love him well...but as I sit and reflect, I am so very blessed to have him.
4) For my sweet Eden...there are no words.
5) For adoption...the whole idea of it, the reality of what it accomplishes, of what it teaches, the healing and restoration it brings.
6) For my brothers and sisters in Christ everywhere...I love that our bond in the Spirit transcends race, culture, economics, language, customs...etc.
7) For my family...all of you...
8) For friends that I know I could call at any time and they would be here at the drop of a hat...I have several and am therefore rich beyond measure.
9) For my new house, and the home it is now that we are all in it.
10) Starbuck's Peppermint Mochas (hey, they can't all be "deep")
11) Music...I love how the right song can turn anyone into a dancer or singer.
12) The sound of my daughter singing "Jesus Loves Me" and praying.
13) My church home, Cross Pointe
14) My Birmingham faith family at Brook Hills...we miss you
15) The Word of God...and that I can read and study it myself
16)My loyal companion Maggie, our almost 11-year-old chocolate lab...she is the most gentle creature
17) Lifeline Children's Services, for helping us grow our family
18) Our soldiers, near and far
19)Auburn and the friends I made there
20)My former singles' ministry friends at Hunter Street Baptist who helped me learn how to follow Christ
21) Chris Wilson...the leader of that ministry who is now a pastor...his sermons still ring in my ears
22) Brenda Brown...my mentor who first taught me how to study Scripture
23)Airplanes so we can take the Gospel to the ends of the earth
24)Holiday festivities like Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners with 15 people around the table (in our family), decorating cookies, trimming trees, cider and hot chocolate, cookies for Santa, Christmas cards, stockings full of surprises, etc.
25) And finally, that I can now watch "Christmas Vacation" over and over for the next month...when Clark Griswald's fingers get all that sap on them and start sticking to everything I laugh out loud no matter how many times I've seent it!

Disclaimer: This list is not exhaustive or in order of importance.

Hope you all have a great holiday. Fundraising ornaments are made and will be put on the blog very soon so keep checking. Love yall!