Damaged?

What makes something "damaged"? Is it a tear on a package? Is it a broken piece on a toy that seems beyond repair? Is it a heart that has been broken and not yet mended? Can it be a child who is defenseless against the circumstances it was born into?

I was having a discussion with someone and she used the word "damaged" to describe the children that Robert and I will be soon getting. Oh, how the slip of the tongue can cut deep to the heart. I continued on in the conversation revealing to her that maybe damaged is not the term to use when describing children of any situation. I can not tell you how that one word hurt me. I looked up the definition of the word "damaged" and this is what I found "someone or something considered to be flawed or spoiled in character, efficiency or worth."

How really can you ever call someone else damaged? Aren't we all a little flawed in some way? I know that we are all born sinners. We are all born into a sinful nature, so just by our nature we are damaged. Oh, praise God, that he sent a perfect son to die for us all. Thankfully, damaged doesn't have to be my label anymore.

It's Begining to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

I can't believe this year is really almost over. Thanksgiving was wonderful. My parents came here and my husband fried a delicious turkey ( isn't he the cutest. The turkey and Robert). Me, my mom, and Bank left on Friday morning headed to Atlanta with our church to work in a warehouse for Operation Christmas Child. It is such a blessing to be the last to touch those shoe boxes before the children get them. While my parents were here, my mom took our Christmas pictures. Our dog is such a camera hog, or maybe I have just trained him enough to know when it's time to co-operate with me for our Christmas cards! He just sat perfectly still and looked right at the camera. He is so funny. I hope that your Thanksgiving was wonderful and I pray that your Christmas be filled with joy and happiness! No stress! God bless, April

Paperwork-check!

We've finished! We mailed off our application today! I am super excited to get this process really going. I'm not sure how long the next part will take, but it is such a relief to just get something done and going. It is amazing to look back and see how God has brought us to this point and the changes He made in our hearts. I would have never considered older child adoption three years ago. Now, I can't imagine anything else! What a blessing to feel as though you are in the center of God's will! I have never had such a peace and I am so grateful that God has chosen us to be a part of this journey. Please begin to pray for us and the children God has for us. I know they are somewhere waiting, and I can't wait to bring them home! : )

NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH

I know I am so new at this adoption thing, but when we went for our interview with MS Families for Kids Thursday, our caseworker informed me that November is National Adoption Month. As I begin to think about the children that will soon be ours, I think about the ones that are still left behind in the foster care system. What if one family in every church adopted a child from foster care? So many of these children are going to live the rest of their lives feeling there was never anyone who truly cared for them. Our caseworker told us there are 18 year old kids who still beg to be adopted because when and if they go to college they have NO ONE to go home to during Christmas, Thanksgiving, Spring Break, or Summer. There is no family support there at all. Can you imagine? Pray about how God can use you to impact the life of a child. I truly believe that for Robert and I, this adoption is an act of Worship for our King. He only asks us to be available. He will provide the rest. Pray about your role in adoption.

Getting Started

Well, our first meeting with the adoption agency is next Thursday at 3:00. Please be in prayer for us! We've really been praying for God's direction in all of this! We are currently heading in the direction of foster care adoption. As I have previously posted, we truly feel these are the children who are left behind and forgotten! I am so excited, but I for sure do not want us to be out of the will of God. Please pray for us and the child or children God has in store for us!

Catching Up

It's been a while! Bank is doing great in school. I beleive he is very popular amongst the kids at school which is such a relief. I was very worried he wouldn't fit in, but he is great! Football hasn't really been his thing. He does dress out, but never plays. He has started soccer practice this week and I am so anxious to see him in action. He is a great kid with a good heart! I think God put him here with us so that he will really and truly appreciate the life his parents afford him in Thailand. I hope that while he is here, we can share with him the love of God. We will see.. Keep us and him in your prayers!

On to other news. We are begining the adoption process! I can't tell you how excited I am!
Over the summer I read a book called Adopted for Life and it talked about how adoption is the true picture of what Christ did for us! He gave HIS life so that we may be sons and daughters to God. We are now adopted into the family of GOD! What a blessing. After reading that book it really sent me into a time of prayer, asking God what was His will for this whole adoption. I have for so long wanted an Asian baby that I haven't really asked God what He desires for us. How selfish! So, I began to pray and seek God's will in this. He began to open my eyes and heart to the need of older child/foster care adoption. As I started to research, I was broken hearted to see the need for adoption here in our own country. I can't imagine living all of my life feeling like I was forgotten. And that is what these kids have become, forgotten. I have so changed my view of adoption. It really shouldn't be our "last hope" or our "final resort" to complete our families. It should be our first choice to expand our families in a true way that God expands HIS! I am so excited to see where God is going to take us with this process. I know there will be challenges, but I am so confident that God is in control. Please pray for us as we begin this process. Pray that God will lead us to the child or children we know God has chosen for us.
"I knew you before you were born. In your mother's womb, I created you"

Foreign Exchange

Well, he is here! Our exchange student from Thailand made it Friday. He is very soft spoken (for now), and seems to be a good kid. It has been such a busy weekend that until now, I haven't really thought of how strange we must be to him! He started 11th grade at KHS today, and I have worried all day about him! He will be fine, I know, but that motherly instict has kicked in. This is someonelse's child. He is halfway around the world! I can't imagine what my parents would have felt had I left for a year's worth of education in a foreign land! I am so happy he is here. What an experience for Robert, our families, and the kids at church! And really, what a mission field this could be. In our own home. God is amazing in the ways that he works. In the ways that he created us all so different in appearance, but He desires to love each of us the same! What an awesome God we serve!

Goodbye Summer .....

Well, my summer is officially drawing to a close. We have to be at the High School for a district wide meeting in the morning. I am excited to see my few friends from my school, but so not looking forward to the day to day getting up and getting back into a routine.

In alot of ways this has been a weird summer. I've spent alot of time at home doing alot of thinking. There are days when I can't get my brain to just turn off. Last night I laid in bed with a song from a camp Robert went to replaying in my head. Part of the song says "Lord, deliver me from me. Lord deliver me to you. Grant that I may seek to love and comfort rather than to be loved and comforted. Deliver me from the need of being noticed and appreciated." I could not for the life of me get the song to go away and just get some sleep. So, I began to sing it as a prayer. What a life that would be if we would just get out of our desires and into God's will. I've prayed alot about my pride this summer and for God to just SHOVE me out of the way. Most days, that is what I need the most is a good SHOVE! I am a work in progress.

I pray that song will be my prayer as the days become long with work and home. So many times I get so wrapped up in ME that I can't see what God could be doing in certain situations. This is my prayer for this new school year! We shall see.

Lucky Number 7

I can't believe it! This Monday, Robert and I will be married for SEVEN years! Yes, that's him with his new, younger hair-do! We went to camp with the youth last week and he decided that he wanted a mohawk for camp. It is much cuter when he has it spiked.

I honestly am amazed at how time flies! It really seems like yesterday we got married. We have been through so many things together and I couldn't imagine life without him. If you know Robert, you know what an awesome guy he is. At times, he can be very shy. But oh, when he laughs. It lights up the whole room! I adore his laugh. I adore him really. I am so blessed to have a husband that loves the Lord more than he loves me! That is such a gift!

I've recently had to learn things the hard way, and I am guessing that with age comes wisdom. If you are reading this and you have a husband, praise him. Lift him up for the little things he does. Even if you had to ask him to do it, praise him. Thank him for providing for you and your family. I've let too many days go by complaining about what I don't have and not seeing what I am so blessed to have.


I don't have any idea what God has in store for the next seven years, but I do know that as long as we are together we will be fine.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not boast. It keeps no record of wrong."

Boys of Summer

Look at these little cuties! My nephew Aidan has been staying with us this week. He is at the top in the blue shorts and the much muddier child is Aiden Horne, our next door neighbor. They don't see one another very often, but they have a TON of fun when they are together! They call each other "the other Aidan"! How sweet! It is alot of fun to just watch them interact! The best was seeing them roll in the mud like little piglets!

"The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round"

Well, I am a new driver AGAIN! Not really, but technically I am. Today I took and PASSED my school bus driver's test. I was super nervous because it seemed that everyone in front of me kept failing. Thankfully, I passed all three parts. This bus driving thing is my way of bringing in some extra income. The hope is to pay my car off in a year. That would be wonderful.



God is showing both Robert and me that we haven't been the best stewards of HIS money. I look forward to the day when we can give more to people in need than to Wal-mart. I will treasure the day when we can help others as much as we have been helped ourselves.



I have to take the "driving" part of the test in July. We will have a two day school where they teach us the "how-to" of driving the bus. Look out Kosy, here I COME! : )

Catching Up

After a little urging from Alysha Thompson, (thanks pal), I have decided to pick back up with this blogging! I sometimes feel like I don't have anything exciting to say because we don't have kids to brag about or fantastic things to share. However, we do have a life, and I guess if you find it interesting, here you go! : )

Things have been great around here. My mom graduated from Hinds Community College last week and I am SUPER proud of her! She has an Associates Degree in Applied Science. Her concentration is Interpreting for the Deaf. She has always been able to sign, but now she has an education to back it up! She is a wonderful woman and I am blessed to have her!
Summer is just beginning! Today was our last day of school with kids! What a relief! This has been a strange year for me, but all in all it was alright! I am taking the bus driver's test on Tuesday. My plan is to use the money to pay off some debt. The hope is to be debt free in one year! That's the plan anyway! : )

On a more serious note, God has been dealing with me lately. Mostly about my pride and "control" issues. I have been so busy with the things of this world, that I have neglected my daily time with him. Of course when that happens, I try to handle issues myself and that just really messes EVERYTHING up! But, He is teaching me. I write all this to urge you to give it to God. All of it. If you are struggling with a relationship, friendship, habit, or just need some peace give it to God. There is nothing HE CAN'T HANDLE! And what a relief it is to know that we don't have to do it! This passage has come to my mind when I try to deal with things in my own will and power! I hope it helps you too! God bless!

"Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soles.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light"

Matthew 11:28-30

FOREIGN STUDENT

Well, it is official. We are getting a foreign exchange student in August. His name is Bank. Well, that's not his real name, just a nickname. He is from Bangkok, Thailand. He will be here in August. I am super excited. I think this is going to be a great opportunity for us, our families, and the kids at church! Please be in prayer for him and his family as he is going to be away from his home and all that he has known for 10 months! Also, be in prayer for us. The national religion in Thailand is Buddhism. Pray that God guides our words and our lifestyle in a way that will show Bank the love of Christ.

Adventures in Babysitting

We've had the joy this week to babysit again, and thankfully there haven't been any snake sightings! We've had a great time with the baby! She is so sweet! She did get sick on Wednesday, and I had to experience the whole ear infection nightmare. We aren't sure how long she is going to be here, but she has been a blast. I am very proud of myself. I didn't think I could handle the early mornings and late nights, but I have done well. She makes it easy! I have realized that maybe I could do this kid thing! Maybe it wouldn't be so difficult! Maybe God is up to something right now, who knows! : )

Loving Them...

It's been almost 2 years since Robert began working with the youth at our church. Today was one of those L-O-N-G Saturdays. We had an Easter Egg Hunt, then he had a practice for our Easter program, and we had a bon fire tonight for the youth. When we first started with the youth, days like today thrilled my heart. I wanted to be with the kids as much as I could and I wanted to just be apart of everything they did. Well, gradually, life got too busy and what I loved often became what I loved to hate. I'm NOT saying I hated the kids, b/c that would never happen, but I hated the busy life. I forgot why we were in this thing called ministry in the first place. Until today. Yes, we were busy all day. But, I remembered why I loved them so much. They just want somebody to love them. Somebody to spend time with them and just listen to them. I forgot how wonderful it was to just listen to what they had to say and just hang out with them. We have a great group of kids and youth at our church and they have so much potential. I adore them all. God has removed the dread of being too busy and replaced it with the desire to love these kids more. It was like a fresh start. A new day. I am so blessed to be apart of their lives. "Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

Foreign Exchange

Last year, Robert and I talked about getting a foreign exchange student. We couldn't agree on the sex of the student, so we just quit the whole idea all together! We ended up having William move in with us in August (if you don't know the story, its a long one). I guess he was God's version of "foreign exchange". Although he was American, he was a complete stranger to us. He lived here until the end of November. Anyway, a week or so ago, a lady came to the church with a flyer advertising foreign exchange students. One of the countries on the flyer was Thailand. Robert was super excited! We talked it over and decided to call the lady for more info. Our thought was that if we are going to adopt from Thailand, why not host a student from there and learn as much as we can about the country. Robert has handled most of the process, which has been very quick and easy. We did decide that we would get a boy and our first choice country was Thailand. Hopefully, we will know more soon as far as when the student will come and the ins and outs of the program! Pray for us! We think hosting a student will be such a great experience for not just our family, but also for the kids at church! And, you never know where you plant the seed and it will grow!!!

Exciting Week

We've had the pleasure this past week to babysit a 14 month old for a family in our church. What a precious girl! She was alot of fun, but I have a new respect for mothers who have children and WORK! It was a job in itself to get her ready! But, we had a great time and I think Robert and I learned alot! : )

But the most exciting & scary time this week happened on Thursday. We had a little "visitor" in our house, A SNAKE! We took the baby for a walk and when we came back, I just pushed her stroller into the house with us. Well, low and behold, I looked down in the floor a few minutes later and there it was. I thought it was a leaf, but no, it was a very small snake! Scared me to death! Robert was just as shocked as I was and he quickly killed it and carried it out! I managed to convince myself that it must have just curled itself up in the stroller wheel and came right inside when I brought it in. On Friday, I bought 2 boxes of moth balls and now our house and yard stink to high heaven, but I hope it will remedy our snake issue!!!! : )

~A Little About Us~

Robert and I have been married almost 7 years. He is a wonderful man. I am so blessed to have a great husband. His laugh lights up the room and his devotion to loving and serving God is more than words can describe. Our life has changed alot in 7 years. We were married in Canton in 2002 and lived in Florence, MS for 3 years. He worked for Atmos and I worked as a secretary. He felt God calling him back home to Kosciusko, so we packed up and moved! Talk about a change!

His friend, Chad, offered him a job in construction and we settled into our new life in KO. We'd been here almost a year and he was asked to fill in part time with the youth at our church. So he did, and God began to call him into full time ministry. He surrendered to the ministry in June of 2007 and was hired full time at Williamsville Baptist Church in February 2008.

Life really changed then for us both. We are so thankful for our family and our church! God has brought us through so many things in the past three years! He is always faithful to us!

I really started this blog to chronicle the biggest decision that Robert and I have ever made and to make known our struggles and hopefully our triumphs in the coming months. We have prayed for many years for a baby. In 2006, I had a miscarriage and since then have been unable to get pregnant. Through tears, prayers, and uncertainty about our future, we began to seek God's will for a child. We have always known that adoption was an option, but we've never taken any steps to really get the process started. Recently, we were given a gift from some dear friends and we felt it was time to get it going! We started our "adoption fund" and since then, God has provided. Adoption is very expensive, but we know that God will supply all our needs.

Our prayer now is that God will make His will known to us. We are still uncertain as to what country we will adopt from, but we are seriously looking into adopting from Thailand. We have only just started the process and we know it will be a WHILE before we actually have a child in our home. Please begin to pray for us. Pray God will provide financially and also pray for the child that we already know He has in store for us.

Adoption is the perfect picture of God's love for us. HE CHOSE US! What a blessing. Even in our sin and filth, HE CHOSE US!!! I was studying in Galatians one Sunday and came across this verse "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out ABBA, FATHER. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir" Gal. 4:6&7. What a blessing!