Only God!

17 Years Together
On April 3rd Kyle & I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary!  We had a wonderful evening together - and a "cheap" one too.   No, the flowers weren't recycled ... like they were 18 years ago the week he proposed and found perfectly good carnations thrown in the trash from someone who didn't want to receive them so he rescued them and gave them to me.  No, we didn't go to the Mexic*an restaurant and only order 2 pops and eat the refillable chips & salsa for our date...like we did 17 + years ago.  No, we were blessed with a gift certificate awhile back and it still had about $6-$8 left on it.  So, we decided to go to this restaurant and finish our certificate - they have great food and we very rarely eat there so that's where we headed.  We enjoyed our meal and shared together in conversation reminising and talking about our family and life.  One thing we talked about was our concerns with the surmounting medical bills we were receiving from Megan's pneumonia.  Time came to get going and Kyle gave the server our gift certificate and the rest of the payment.  She came back a few minutes later and said she didn't need the other payment as there was over $30 left on the card.  Huh?  But, we used it awhile ago and there was only $30 to begin with???? Or so we thought. 

ONLY GOD! 

Wow - we were so surprised ... we just enjoyed a wonderful, quiet meal together and it didn't cost us anything - thank you Heavenly Father!  He knows our concerns....and He BLESSED us!

Easter Celebration

Easter...new spring clothes...chocolate bunnies...chocolate eggs...marshmallow shaped animals...egg hunts...

the list goes on.  Easter is in fact the 2nd best selling candy holiday in the US.  But what is it about Easter that is more than all this?  It's celebrating the fact that we have a Savior who went to the cross for each one of us...died in our place...took our punishment.  But, that's not the end of the story....no, 3 days later He defeated death and rose again.  "The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.'"  Matthew 28:5-6 

ONLY GOD - He always keeps his word - He is faithful!

Easter is so much more than candy & eggs...we celebrate our risen Lord, our "new life in Christ" and pray that you too can celebrate your new life in Christ.   To know Christ as your Savior, visit here

Provisions

I mentioned above how we had been worrying (never a good thing to do - it gets you no where, just like a rockin' chair ;))  Anyway...we had been worrying about the medical bills were were facing.  Long story and rather than get into a rant about how unfair and - should be - illegal actions by our insurance company, we have been without insurance for Megan.  So, these bills are a huge concern.  After much prayer and searching of our options, we decided to apply for asssistance.  After a meeting with a local case worker, we were told there was no way we would qualify.  She couldn't tell me why because she didn't have that authority, but just that when doing the application on her computer program, it said we were denied.  That was on a Friday.  The following Tuesday we got a letter in the mail saying we were qualified and Megan had medical coverage.  Huh???  Weren't we just told we did NOT qualify, now we do? 

ONLY GOD! 

Again, He is Faithful and has provided for our needs.  Was this they way in which we thought, no.  But, HE PROVIDED.  Recently Kyle had been to a Holiness Summit and one of the quotes he brought back was this...

"despise the means and forfeit the grace". 

The speaker, Mark Quanstrom was preaching on II Kings 5.  So Lord, we do not despise the means...we accept your grace...your provision...thank you!

SPRING BREAK FUN

Another,

ONLY GOD

experience recently where our entire family was invited to a Pist0ns game - FREE.  Yup - as in no cost to us.  Isn't that just like God - to bless our socks off?  We had a blast!  And, the group that invited us got to go out on the floor during warm ups- so did we!  And, the group got to make a free throw after warm ups - so did our girls (well only Megan - Nat didn't want to - but she could have).  And - the group had packed sack lunches (which were delicious) made up for everyone so we didn't have to buy expensive stadium food.  It was an awesome night!  Megan had a great time at her first ever professional sports event ....and the Pist0ns even won!   

 

OUR TWO - ONLY GOD - BLESSINGS!

Here's a couple of fun photos of the girls - OUR girls only because of God!

The football game was at a picnic we had with our good friends, the Powells.  Megan had a blast running around with the big boys playing football!  And, our tree-climbin', song-singin' Natalee.  We had no more than parked the car after getting home from the picnic and she was in the tree singing and climbing - just "hangin" out. 

one week later but HAPPY GOTCHA DAY

Last Thursday we celebrated the day that our lives were forever changed with the addition of a beautiful, fiesty, full of life, adorably cute little 3 1/2 year old.  She has the deepest most infectious laugh, the most determined will, the best big hugs and is such a blessing to our family.  One year has gone so fast and yet it has seemed she has been a part of us for so much longer.  We are so thankful for the love and care she received from her foster family! 

We celebrated our day "Megan" style.  In fact, all of the suggestions that her big sister gave her just wouldn't do because as she said "It's MY gotcha day so I get to choose."  Okay - so what did she want to do?  Eat at Chuck *e* Cheese and fly a kite.   Easy enough.  She loved playing the games at CEC, especially the 4wheeler ride with dad.  Flying the kite was cold!  After about 3 minutes she said she was done and wanted to go swing, so Kyle & I flew the kite.  The cold wind was a little too much and we certainly didn't need anyone catching a cold so we went to the car to warm up.  Daddy ended up falling asleep for a few mintues and the girls and I just chatted.  We were trying to decide where to go eat and Nat said it was tradition to go to our favorite Chinese restaurant for Gotcha day.  Well, Miss Megan didn't like that someone else was "telling" her what to do on her day.  So, okay, what should we do Megan?  "Well... how 'bout Chinese noodles from our favorite restaurant?"  ;) Sounds good sweety - so that's what we did. 

We had such a wonderful, relaxing day with just Megan.  She really enjoyed the time together and having Daddy not working - she thought that was really cool.  I know I've said this many many times, but we really are so blessed.  We are blessed to be the parents of two amazing girls.  We are blessed to be adopted by them as their parents.  We are blessed to live in America.  We are blessed to be adopted by Jesus Christ, to be His child!  We are blessed! 

New look for new year

Today (actually yesterday as the clock says it's after midnight) marks our one year anniversary of "gotcha" day.  It's hard to believe it's been one year already.  The time has gone so fast and yet it seems that Megan has been with us forever.  I decided to play around tonight and I created a new look for our blog.  I also gave it a new title as we are no longer on the journey to "get" Megan nor are we currently in the process of going "to" China.  So...to mark the fact that we are on this journey of life togther as a family, I've changed the title of the blog.  Hopefully tomorrow I'll get a chance to post the pictures from today's celebration. 

Home from hospital

Just a quick note to update you all - first thank you for remembering Megan in your prayers.  She was able to meet the requirements necessary to go home Sunday night.  We left the hospital around 6pm.  The last few days have been pretty quiet for Megan - trying to regain some strength, lessen her coughing and continuing drinking.  Today was her follow-up appointment and the dr. said he still hears some noises and feels she still has some pneumonia left.  He said it would be a good week or two before she is fully recovered.  The good news is she doesn't have any restrictions (only what she feels up to) and she is feeling better as she told the dr.  :)  So...thank you again for your prayers!

First Hospitalization

Well, here's a first for both Kyle & I - being in the hospital.  No, it was't one of us, it's Megan.  Over a week ago (2/26) she began with chest congestion, cough & such and after two ER visits, two chest x-rays and a visit to her pediatrician she wasn't improving but rather the 2nd chest x-ray showed some worsening of pnemonia.  So...on Friday they admitted her.  She's been dehydrated and has lost at least three pound too.  It's been a long week and an even longer three days. 

Megan is a fighter in many senses of the word.  She has very strong ideas (which can be a great thing when appropriate) but it's been difficult to get her better because she often fights us.  I'm not used to such opposition from my child - it's a whole new parenting ballgame.  But, we're hoping that she will follow instructions the rest of today so she can go home this evening.  Please pray for her recovery, that we will do what is best for her, that the rest of us stay healthy and everyone gets rest. 

CNY Performances

Below are the links to the CNY performances at our party this past Tuesday.  Xi Nian Kuai Le! Happy New Year!

Natalee performing Golden Ring dance

Megan's class singing "da shang"

Megan's class singing "xaio lao shu"

Group singing "gong xi gong xi gong xi"

Xi Nian Kuai Le & Happy V-day!

It seems like just yesterday was the first of the new year and here we are celebrating Valentines and Chinese New Year - wow!  Everyday is a new adventure with our girls and such a blessing too.  I must admit that there have been some tough days lately - don't know if it's just that our "honeymoon" phase is over and Megan is feeling much more "stable" at home and therefore acting out or what exactly - but it's been trying to say the least.  I'm learning new parenting skills because like everyone says - your second will be totally different than your first.  I think it's one of God's ways of keeping us on our knees.  :) 

Well, here's a glimpse of the fun stuff we've been up to ....

Making V-day cookies & crayons. 

At a local Chinese New Year celebration this weekend.  It was a wonderful time with many other adoptive families and performances by the local Chinese association.  The girls made CNY crafts and afterward they made their own fireworks - bubblewrap!

Today Nat hosted a Samantha Am*erican Girl mystery party for her friends.  I played Aunt Cornelia & Megan played Bridget.  The girls had a great time solving the mystery and having fun together on their day off from school.