Break my heart

I dont know where to start this blog, or where to end it, so I'm just going to start typing and we'll see together where this goes.  This'll probably take me all day to type out, as I'm quite sure I'll go through it 100 times and add/delete stuff.  Heres my official warning

THIS WILL NOT BE A FUNNY BLOG! THIS BLOG WILL BE VERY DISTURBING AND POSSIBLY GRAPHIC, SO IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 15. 

So, if you are reading this and expecting my usual lunacy, I'm sorry to disappoint.  I do have a serious side, sometimes, and it needs to come out and play for a bit.  After I'm done, I'll stuff it back down and put my funny mask back on.

Here we go.

I have been praying a lot lately, nothing exactly new to me, but I've been praying with a specific purpose.  I wanted my heart broken.  Say what???  Yes, I have been praying for God to smash my heart.  Break it, crumble it, make me cry, make me FEEL SOMETHING.  Lately I've felt very calm.  This is a good thing considering who I live with, but I'm sick of calm.  I want to be PASSIONATE.  Oooh la la.  No, not that kind of passion (although I'm sure Andy might appreciate that), I want to be passionate about Gods purpose.  I want to live for more than this day to day nonsense.  I get up, I get the boys to school, I clean my house, I read facebook, I do sleep studies, I go to church, I spend time with the smokin-hot hubster, blah blah blah...YAWN.  Man, I'm bored.  And I'm boring. Not to say that what I'm doing is not important.  Raising four sons to be godly men is THE most important job that I've ever been given, that and being my husbands arm candy.  However,  I am craving SUBSTANCE!  Give me something challenging, break my mold, open my eyes Father God.  TELL ME WHAT TO DO!  Reveal the ugly, reveal the sin in my life, reveal the prejudice that I have, and make me get rid of it!  Well, He has.  Thank you Abba Father.

Okay, all that being said, I'm going to type the subject of this blog.  DONT RUN AWAY!

Abortion.

BOOM!

If you're still here, let me get down to business.  I'm going to try and keep this very fact-oriented.  I have several atheist/agnostic friends, so I dont want to get all holy-roller.  This isnt a religious issue, its a life issue.  This isnt a Republican/Democrat issue, its a life issue.  This isnt an American issue, its a life issue.  Abortion effects ALL OF US.  Now, please keep in mind that I am a Christian, so that will be discussed.  However, when I say that I am a Christian, its not a religion to me, its a matter of Faith and a way of life.  Its not about rules, but about grace in knowing that I am just as much of a sinner as the next guy.  I know that I am not always right, but I know the One who is :)

Unless you live in a cave, you've heard about the Gosnell trial.  If you do live in a cave, let me enlighten you.  Kermit Gosnell is a physician in Philly that performs abortions.  Well, he DID perform abortions, now he's going to rot in jail till he dies.  Why??  Because it was discovered that he was killing babies that were completely born ALIVE.  He had several live births in the process of abortion.  How did he handle these?  What did he do with these squirming, crying, breathing babies??  He killed them.  Snipped their brain from their spinal cord.  The stories are horrific and unfathomable to anyone with any kind of conscience.  The pictures are worse.  Fully formed human beings with cuts in their necks.  He took them and threw them in the trash.  In the garbage, like yesterdays casserole.  
Many people would like us to believe that he's just a freak, he's out of the mainstream, he's alone in doing this.  No, he's not.  I'm not dumb enough to think "Well, he's in jail, thats the end of THAT"  No, there are more "Gosnells" out there.  Abortion is big business, folks.  BIG MONEY.  Did some quick research (google).  In 2005, approximately $831,000,000 was made from abortions.  yes, thats MILLIONS.  Its increased steadily over the years.  Gosnell himself made 1.8 million annually.  Abortion is priced according to how far along the woman is.  1st trimester, 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester.  The further along, the more its gonna cost.  Third trimesters are supposed to be illegal, but, obviously, they are still happening.  The cut off is supposed to be 24 weeks in most states.  Ironic that 24 weeks is also the known as the "viability" week.  Meaning, if you make it to 24 weeks, and your baby would happen to be born then, the chances are much greater for the child to survive than before 24 weeks.  So, at 24 weeks, you can either kill the baby or save it. 

My heart aches over this.  My soul literally cries.  I dont understand this.  How can this be happening in this country?  What would make a woman decide to end a life?  I dont have the answers, but I'm trying to find out.  I'm especially concerned with the late-term abortions.  What happened in these womens lives to make them suddenly decide to kill the child that they've been pregnant with for 6 months?  How can a woman do this after shes felt that baby move?  I dont understand, and frankly, I'm scared to death to understand.  The overwhelming answer that I've received so far is ignorance.  I dont say that in a mean way.  I'm not saying "stupidity", I'm saying ignorance.  Women are not aware that this is a living human being.  They are told that its a clump of tissue, that he doesnt feel pain, that he's not formed.  They are also ignorant of their choices.  I find it crazy that the pro-abortionists are called "Pro-Choice".  If it were truly pro-choice, than women WOULD be given the information and knowledge that they need to make an INFORMED DECISION.  Instead, they are lied to, deceived, kept in the dark.  Dont believe me??  Check out these clips.



http://youtu.be/eipSl72hsmI

http://youtu.be/BtpdYlcbVRQ

http://youtu.be/NxOWyumLufA6

There are many, many more videos.  Time after time, women are being lied to.  Women are being led to believe that having a baby is a pain, a burden, that its horrible.  No...its not.  Babies are wonderful!  They are beautiful and fantastic!  Babies bring indescribable joy!!!  Yes, they are hard work, but its so worth it! 

From reading article after article, the facts are just mind-numbing.  If I can be real frank here, folks, these women are not from white suburbia.  The majority of these women (in the US) are either black or latino.  In the US, an African American baby has a 50/50 shot at being born.  Read that again.  HALF of all African American pregnancies end in abortion.  Most of these women have low-incomes.  This is a travesty!  And, I dont want to hear the argument "Well, thats one less that I'll have to support with my tax money".  For real?  Seriously?  You'd rather have a child end up in the trash can than use "your" tax money.  Time for a priority check. These babies deserve LIFE.  They deserve an education, food, clothing..everything that my boys have.  If it takes my tax money to do it, so be it. 

I could go through some more numbers, more statistics, more facts, but I'll spare you.  I want to zero in on my women out there that are thinking about an abortion. 

Please, educate yourself.  Please.  If anything, get ALL the facts first.  Once an abortion is done, its done, theres no turning back. Please, consider LIFE.  Consider what kind of mom you could be!  I know its scarey, I know its uncertain, but give yourself and that baby a chance!  You are much stronger than you think you are.     Please, consider adoption.  If your life circumstances dont look like they could support a baby right now, than do the most unselfish thing and place that baby into waiting arms.  I know too many women that have battled or are battling infertility.  Do you know what they would give to be able to get pregnant???  Do  you know how many lives will be blessed by that decision??  Do you know how much YOU will be blessed by that decision?  And it doesnt have to be "hand baby over, never see him again".  There are so many different adoption options.  I'm asking for 9 months of your whole life.  9 months.  Two of my sons are adopted.  I love these boys with everything I have, and I will forever praise their birth-mothers for choosing LIFE.

Now, I'm going to zero in on men.  Men, for goodness sake, rise up and do SOMETHING.  Stop sitting there with your fingers in your ears!  You had just as much to do with this baby being conceived as she did.  BE RESPONSIBLE.  Most likely, the woman is going to go along with what you decide.  USE PROTECTION.  If you absolutely cannot wait until marriage (which all of you can, I assure you), then use protection.  And if, by chance, your partner does become pregnant, then BE A MAN AND HELP HER!  Dont run off like some dog in heat just lookin for the next one to impregnate!

Ok, my preachin is over.  All of this leads to my initial paragraphs about God speaking to me.  He is urging me to help NOW.  So, I'm going to be contacting the local pro-life organizations and seeing what I can do.  I dont have any money, and I have very little time, but the time I can give, I will.  I'm not telling you this to brag, honestly, I'm scared to death.  But, I'm sick of sitting here and reading these horror stories and not doing anything about it.  God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of courage.

In closing, I need to mention, if you are a woman, and you have had an abortion, good Lord I'm praying for you.  Healing is possible, Forgiveness is possible, Being whole again is possible.  I pray thousands of blessings upon you to help you. 

Its either we laugh or....we get off our butts and do something.

Angie

Christmas songs...a new perspective

yes, its that beautiful time of year, the lovely Christmas season!  So many memories come back of my Christmas' "down on the farm".  Going to Christmas Eve mass, headed to my grandmas after that, going home and "just missing" Santa flying by.  Scurrying up to bed..all those awesome kid memories.  Well....now I'm an adult.  I still love Christmas, but Christmas music seems to have changed a bit over the years.  Maybe not changed a bit, but as I have "matured" (I use that word loosely), I've begun to notice some songs that may need a bit of the ol' Twin Treatment.  Following is my list of songs that either needed banned for all eternity, or songs that you might want to take a "second glance" at.

"Do you hear what I hear?"
this is a beautiful song, especially when Carrie Underwood sings it.  Its so sweet, so nice to listen to.  However....have you ever really listened to the lyrics.  Let me enlighten you.

Said the shepard boy to the mighty king
Do you know what I know
In your palace wall mighty king
Do you know what I know
A child, a child
Shivers in the cold
Let us bring him silver and gold
Let us bring him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere
Listen to what I say
Pray for peace people everywhere
Listen to what I say
The child, the child
Sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

OKAY, HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!!!!  Hey, shepherd boy, you're not too bright, are you.  Knowing that the "shepherd' job was pretty much the lowest ranking job in society back then, it shouldnt surprise me.  Heres the thing.  You say "a child, a child, shivers in the cold, let us bring him silver and gold".  Hey, genius, why dont you bring a BLANKET to the freezing child.  Thanks, braniac, baby Jesus is going to get pneumonia if you dump a bunch of germ-infested money onto him.  Oh, and that King that you just told???  That would be King Herod.  Know how much he loved the news of a king being born in a palace???  he didnt say "he will bring us goodness and light"  He said "kill all the sons under the age of 2".  Way to go shepherd boy!

"I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus"
Ok, this song is pretty tame, but umm...WHAT?  You snuck out of bed and caught mom in a torrid affair and you say "Oh what a laugh it would have been , if daddy had only seen".  No...kid...reality check. If daddy had seen, there would be carnage and police all over your house.  You can forget about that bike you asked for, its being taken in as evidence.

"jingle bells"
Again, I thought this was relatively tame, until I actually read the lyrics.  Do you know the lyrics to the second verse?  Let me enlighten you.  The guy picks up a chick, and her name is Fannie Bright.  really??  Fannie Bright???  I dont want to know what her side job is.  They get stuck in the snow.  Hmmm....stuck in the snow with Fannie Bright?  Me thinks that wasnt an accident.   hehehehe

"Its the Most wonderful time of the year"
This is a fun one, but theres a line in it that I've never understood.  It goes "They'll be scarey ghost stories and tales of the glory of Christmas' long long ago".  Ok, am I missing some sort of tradition?  How many of you, instead of reading the Bible Christmas story or perhaps Twas the night before Christmas, read scarey ghost stories to your kids?  "Hey kids, Santa is actually code for Zombie, and he's gonna come down the chimney and eat you!"  Merry Christmas, off to bed!

"Santa Claus is coming to town"
Ok, other than the obvious creepiness of this song (Santa Claus is obviously working for the CIA)  The Pendley version goes like this
"You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout I'm telling you why
Cause mom and dad arent afraid to spank your butt"

"12 days of Christmas"
This song is off the hook crazy.  I understand that theres some kind of special meaning to all the gifts, but I dont care.  I'm taking them all at face value.  Do you realize that there are 5 flippin days before the man gets anything decent for his wife?  Up until the golden rings, all she got is a bunch of flippin birds to take care of.  And then right after the rings, he goes back to the birds with flipping geese.  Geese are pretty much the meanest birds on the planet.  Lets buy 6 of them!  Hooray!!!!   And then he brings home "Maids a milking"  Hey honey, your next present is a bunch of harlets and they brought their cows!!!!!  YIPPEEE!!!!  Ohh, however, he does bring home a bunch of "lords a leapin"   WTH?  Lords a leapin?  Makes me question whats making those boys leap.  My best guess would be they are leaping all over the bird poop thats now covered the house.

"Baby its cold outside"
I love this song, I really do.  But, do you realize he drugs this chick?  I didnt know they had Roofies 'back in the day'.  Theres a line in it that says " Say, whats in this drink?"  see, he drugged her.  Wrong, Bing Crosby, thats just WRONG!


Thats just my take on a few songs.  Feel free to add your own!!!!!!!  Have a very Merry Christmas!  And watch out for that Eggnog!

Angie

Positive Reinforcement

I've had this blog idea bouncing around in my head for a number of days, so let's see if I can spit it out.


 I firmly believe this world would be a much better place, if we all ran on the "Positive Reinforcement" model.  Some examples would be-


"Excuse me, fine citizen.  Do you know why I pulled you over?" 
"No, fine officer, why is that?"
" Well, I saw that you were the only fine citizen not driving like a drunken monkey through the construction site.  Here is a coupon for a free ice cream cone. *wink wink*  Carry on fine citizen!"


At the doctors office-

"Well hello, fine patient of mine.  I see that you walked in here with your severed head in a bag and didn't demand pain meds.  Here, this is a script for loritab.  Take two of them with a shot of vodka.  Send yourself on a little mini- vacation without even leaving your living room." 
As opposed to "Hello crack head patient of mine.  I see you are demanding anxiety meds because your neighbors dog won't stop barking.  Here, this is a script for "Suck it up sweetheart" and a gun permit.  I think you know what to do."


At the school

"well hello fine parent.  I see that you are the only parent who hasn't called to harass me about homework, lunches, my shoe size, and my middle name.  Here is a free pass on having to sign the 400 parent forms that I will be sending home in the next 2 days."
" well thank you, fine teacher of my child."


Seriously, the world would be a much better place if they would only put anti-depressants in the water system like they do fluoride!

We either laugh or.......we shoot the neighbors dog.

The right way....or else

Well, its been awhile since I've blogged about anything, but this morning finds me in quite the sarcastic mood, so hey, lets blog.
Anyone that has followed my facebook posts for any amount of time, knows that I absolutely HATE dropping my kids off at school (and picking them up).  Hate it, abhor it, would rather spill my own blood than do it.  Why? you may ask???  I'll explain it to you in the best way I know how....drumroll please....

The Right Way....When getting  your child ready for school, before you put them in your vehicle, check to make sure they are fully dressed.  Clothes, shoes, socks...not that hard.  Make sure they have their backpack in order and fully zipped.
The Wrong Way...Throw your kid in the car in their pajamas and have them get dressed on the way to school.  Put their backpack in the trunk with all the contents spilling out.  Lock trunk, put padlock on trunk, sit elephant on trunk..drive to school like a bat out of hell.

The Right Way.....When placing your child in the vehicle, make sure they are sitting in the seat closest to the door that they will be exiting.

The Wrong Way....Stuff your kid under the seat, tie them down with chains

The Right Way...When entering the school lot, get into the drop-off lane and wait your turn.  Slowly make your way up to the school.

The Wrong Way...screech into the parking lot, get into the left lane, bypass all the vehicles waiting their turn in the drop off lane, pull up to the school and completely stop traffic as your little angel weaves in-between cars to get to the door.  Of course, if your little angel gets hit by a car, you would have the right to sue the snot out of the driver, the school, the corporation, the highway dept, and President Obama. It would have NOTHING to do with your negligence at all.

The Right Way...once you get up to the school door, have your kid unbuckle and hop out.

The Wrong Way...Once you get up to the school, YOU exit the vehicle, run around the car like a Japanese fire drill, unbuckle your kid that evidently cant do it themselves, talk to your kid, put their shoes on for them, knit them a sweater, recite the pledge, change the oil in your car....all the while ignore the people behind you that are waiting to leave. 

If you are one of the parents that like to walk your child up to the school from the parking lot, then...

The Right Way...park your car in one of the designated parking spots.  Walk to crosswalk.  Wait for Principal to wave you through, pick up your kid.

The Wrong Way...park wherever you flippin feel like.  Not a spot available, make your own.  Better yet, park in the drop-off lane and then walk up to the school.  Dont worry about the rest of us behind you, I assure you we have nothing better to do than to sit and wait on you.  Go get your child, chatty chat with the teacher, give the principal an apple, reconstruct Noahs Ark out of toothpicks, learn a foreign language, then meander back to your car.

Exiting the parking lot....

The Right Way...wait your turn, drive about 3 mph, take RIGHT turn out of parking lot, drive slowly until you get out of the school zone.

The Wrong Way...peel out of your parking spot, flip off other parents, wedge your car sideways in the drop-off lane so that nobody can get around you, attempt to make LEFT hand turn around the orange barrels and cones, cause accident on 18th st (one of the busiest streets in Lafayette), cuss everyone out, sue the principal, the school, the corporation, the highway department, and President Obama.

People, my tolerance with this is VERY,VERY thin.  I have an 8 passenger Suburban..it eats tiny cars for snacks and mini-vans for dinner.  Cut me off again..I dare you.

Its either we laugh, or we....homeschool.  hehehe

Angie

Fun facts about the Twins

I'm bored.  How bout I write a blog post!?  Funny, maybe funny, strange, weird, ironic facts about Me and My Twin.


1.  We were born exactly 30 minutes apart.  Our poor mother.  I was breech.  This was back in the day when they just went ahead and had the moms deliver the breech babies.  I showed my best side to the world from the get go.

2.  We were shipped to Riley Childrens Hospital after we were born.  Mom and Dad hadn't named us yet, so we were Baby A, and Baby B.

3.  Angie, Twin 1, has a degree in Law Enforcement.  Chrissy, me Twin 2, has a degree in teaching Special Education.  We are both now Board Registered Polysomnographists.

4.  Our husbands both have the same ex-girlfriend. 

5.  Growing up, it was predicted that Angie would have a million pets and maybe a few kids, Chrissy would have a million kids and maybe a few pets.  Now that we're adults, Angie has a million kids and two pets.  Chrissy has one kid and a million pets.

6.  We were room mates in college.  This was NOT by choice to begin with.  They roomed us together because they processed the dorm applications in the order they were received.  Since they received ours at the same time, they put us in the same room.  We were told once we got to college, we could request new roommates.  Once we GOT to college, we decided to just stay together since we didn't know anyone else.

7.  The nick names Twin 1, and Twin 2, were given to us by our neighbors at college.  They couldn't remember our names, so they just named us Twin 1 and Twin 2 and the nick names stuck.  To this day, I SWEAR there are still people from college that don't know our names.

8.  We both met our husbands in the same place at college.  Campus Ministries.

9.  We are both in love with Notre Dame football, Adam Levine, and chocolate.

10.  We both despised every single minute of high school and don't feel like we really came to life until we left. College, on the other hand, was a freakin hoot.  LOVED every minute of college.

11.  We have matching twin tattoos. 


I'm tired, I can't think of any more. 

It's either we laugh, or we moon the mailman.


Chrissy

I've had too much caffeine

So, we are getting ready to complete our yearly home study update for adoption.  It's something that has to be done each year to keep us eligible for adoption.  Anyway, I have been thinking of crazy things kids say and I have decided to write down the WORST things kids could say during a home study.

1.  "Mommy drinks ALOT after the nice church ladies leave."

2.  "Those child proof tops on Mommys Happy Meds are REALLY easy to get off."

3.  "Mommy told me before you got here if I touched anything in the house she would rip my arms off and feed them to the dog."

4.  "Mommy says she really hopes you don't look in the attic 'cause that's where she keeps the instruments of torture."

5.  "Mommy threatened Daddy with bodily harm and possible death if he didn't get off his lazy butt and help her clean the house."

6.  "Mommy doesn't kiss Daddy like she does "Uncle Charlie."

7.  "Mommy took a triple dose of meds before you came here this morning.  She says she hopes you don't notice her pupils are fixed and dilated."

8.  "Mommy said if I don't tell you that I'm a happy kid and love my home that she would lock me in a closet and feed me nothing but bread and water for a week."

9.  "Mommy says she hopes you don't get in the special drawer in her bedroom that has some funny lotions in it. "

10.  "Mommy says she's going to jump off the roof if she has to do one more *&^% home study."

11. " Sometimes when Mommy and Daddy are sleeping, I like to play scientist with all the cleaning products I can find."

12.  "Last week, my baby brother was eating out of the litter box and Mommy said that which does not kill us makes us stronger."

13.  "Yesterday, the cat bit my baby brother, and as he was bleeding all over the place, Mommy called the vet to get the cats shots updated for the first time in 5 years."

14.  "Last week, Daddy complained about dinner and Mommy threw the food across the kitchen and told Daddy to make his own (*&^ dinner next time."


I'm not right in the head.  For the record...my kid has only said ONE of these in public.  I will let you guess which one.

Small Boy Training Camp...I'm a genius

4 small boys...........4 small boys.............4 FLIPPIN SMALL BOYS!!!!!  Lord almighty, I love my sons, but today is one of those days where I'm sitting here at the end of the day wondering "What the hell just happened".  The events of today got me thinkin.....There is a missing niche in the market, and I think I've discovered it.  Its called "Small Boy training camp".  No, its not for small boys...its for the PARENTS of small boys.  Seriously, I think every ultrasound tech should be ready with brochures.  When they detect a boy is to be born, the tech can hand out the brochure and say "A certificate of completion is required before we let you take your boy home, in ten years you'll thank us"  

Upon arrival, you may notice that this is not your "typical" camp.  Its in a warehouse.  A warehouse of PAIN!  You will enter the Pain Zone (PZ for short) and immediately be hit in the face with a stick.  Why?  What did you do to deserve this?  Absolutely nothing.  You need to get used to that sting, cuz you're going to feel it every day for at least 10 years.  See, when  you put a stick into a Small Boys (SB) hands, it immediately becomes a tool of destruction.  Its not a magical wand, a conductors baton, or a drum stick...its a WEAPON FOR CAUSING PAIN!  The same with baseball bats, play swords (which hurt really bad and makes me wonder who the heck thought of such torture devices), and the neighbors cat.  All of these and many more will immediately turn your angel into a demon.  You've been warned.

Once your face stops throbbing, its onto hardware.  This is for you dads out there.  I dont care if you are a handy man, you're gonna have to know some things before you bring your SB home.  If you dont know them, then you need to have some serious cash stashed away for the handy man you will have to call.  First up...toilets.  Each man will be timed on how long it takes them to snake, snake again, give up on snaking, rip the toilet out, retrieve the object (and yes, it will be an object), replace the wax ring, and put the toilet on again.  I'm proud to say that Andy has this down to usually under 10 minutes.  He's a flippin PRO at it.  You get points taken off if you become nauseous at any time.  After toilets, its the sinks.  You need to figure out how to get various items out that your SBs have managed to get into a drain.  Paper towel, lego men, toothbrushes, and chicken nuggets have all been squished down my bathroom sink. 

While the men are busy playing with hardware, its the womens turn.  Ladies, this is where it helps to be slightly psychotic.  You need to learn to think on your feet.  First lesson....language arts. Here you will learn the art of saying "stop hitting your brother" in 4 different languages and tones.  One of them may be effective with your SB. You will also learn how to come up with diseases and maladies that dont exist or will never happen.  You need to think fast and make it as gruesome as possible.  For example, say your SB wants to jump off something that is a bit too high.  I assure you, a simple "No, you might get hurt" is not going to persuade them that it is a bad idea.  Its more like this "if you jump off of that object, than your leg is going to fall off, your eyeballs will bleed, and you'll have to poop into a bag for the rest of your life".  You have to be as deadly serious as you possibly can.  NO LAUGHING!!!!!  Same goes for insects, if you dont know the name of the bug, make it up and make it as deadly as possible.  "If you touch that Beetle Raptor, then it'll bite you and you'll get these horrible bleeding spots all over  your body and theres no medicine for it and then you die".  See, its as easy as that.
 After you have learned how to speak in tongues, its onto crafts.  Each woman will be given a "girly" craft...the women will be timed on how quickly they can turn that girly craft into a manly craft.  Most little boys HATE girlie things.  For example, last year I registered Eli for VBS.  When we arrived, he was given a nametag with a corresponding insect on it.  Eli was quite upset that he was put in the "girly butterfly group".  I quickly grabbed a marker and his name tag.  I drew fangs on the butterfly and said "There, now you are in the butterfly vampire group".  He was ECSTATIC! 

Next, the men and women will join back up.  As you walk through the PZ, you may notice dispensers on the walls.  These dispensers contain little white or peach-colored pills.  These are the Xanax dispensers, and no men, they arent for you, they are for your wives.  Men, you need to calmly walk your wife to these dispensers and say that its chocolate for mommies.  Men, you dont get any because its your punishment for putting your mothers through whatever it is that you did when you were younger.  That'll teach you!!!!!!!!

Now its time for a group activity.  Men, when you signed in, you were asked for your occupation.  Each men will be taken to his designated work area (cubicle with complex computer, cars for mechanics, farm equipment, whatever it is that you do).  Calmly start doing your job.  At any given moment, something horrible will happen to that equipment.  At the same time, your wives will begin texting you.  The texts will look something like this "HELP, I NEED YOUR HELP, THE BOYS DID THIS AND THAT AND I'VE HAD ENOUGH AND ITS YOUR FAULT!"  Men, you need to concentrate on both issues at hand.  Should you neglect to answer your wives texts, then a phone call will follow.  I assure you, you DONT want the phone call. 

Next, we're going to play the SB version of "Telephone".  Remember that game when you were younger?  You'd get a line of people, a phrase would start on one end and then end up all jumbled by the time it got to the other end?  The SB version will put husband against wife.  Wives, you will be put into a room with several SB's.  Husbands, you call your wives with very important information.  Wives, you are awarded points as to how accurate you are with your husbands info.  While your husband is speaking, the SBs will be kicking you, tugging on your clothes, throwing cake batter at their brothers, chasing a hamster, pretending to be spiderman on the walls, and yelling "MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!  THE TOILETS BROKE AGAIN!".  You cannot ignore the SB's, as they will only get louder until you address them.  (and you wonder why I like email and texting)

The last training exercise is for Mom and Dad.  Its called "What is that spot on the wall?".  Each couple will be given multiple tiles of dried "stuff".  Each will need to be correctly identified and bonus points will be given if either one knows how to remove it without damaging the wall.  Some examples will be oatmeal, chocolate, ketchup, oreo, blood, etc. 

Once you have completed all the exercises, you will be awarded with nothing.  Yep, not a darn thing.  However, you will be allowed to take your SB home from the hospital, which in itself is enough reward :)


I love my sons.  I love them so much :)  And, this is going to make me millions......


Its either we laugh or....we go to BED!

Angie

when it works, it's beautiful

You get a phone call in the wee hours of the morning.  "She's in labor" they say, "Are you ready to be a mommy?"  You thought you were ready until that phone call.  It's real, it's really going to happen.  You get up, pace around, look in your closet and ask your husband "What exactly does one wear to the birth of their child?"  "Why aren't you getting dressed? Why are you in bed?" you ask manically.  He groans not quite ready for the drama of all this so early.  "Can I at least get a shower?" he says.  Not soon enough, you are on the road to the hospital. For some, it's by plane, some by car.  We were lucky in that it took us no time to get there.  Then begins the delicate balance of walking the line between birth mom and adoptive mom.  The nurses aren't sure what to make of the whole situation.  The birth mom is fabulous in keeping you involved in all the details.  "This is your baby I'm having" she says, and you melt all over again.  "It's going to be a while" they say.  "If you want to go to church and come back, it will be fine. "  What?  Go to church?  And leave?  How could I possibly leave!?  It's MY baby being born!!!!!  After many hours, they say "At least go and get something to eat so you don't pass out. "  so, you leave, and go out into the world, and you wonder how people can act so normal when a miracle is taking place right down the street.  You get back, wait some more. Finally they say, "It's time.  Only one of you can go back."  Of course it's you.  The hubbs can fend for himself.  You walk into the surgery room, and there she is with a drape in front of her so we can't see what's going on.  "Are you ok?" you ask.  "I'm numb" she says.  And then it's procedure and blah blah blah and all of sudden a baby screams and you burst into tears.  And then she's in your arms.  The most perfect, beautiful creature you have ever laid your eyes on.  It's your daughter.  All 6 lbs, 8 oz 18 3/4 inches of her.  And she's looking at you.  But you can't see much 'cause all you can do is cry and snot all over the place.  "She's beautiful" you say for the 100th time, and the nurses all smile at you.  Then it's off to the nursery for her, and you to the hallway to see the family.  You fall into your husbands arms and you both cry.  "She's beautiful" you say...again.  Then you get to see her through the glass and lo and behold, they ask if you want to give her her first bath.  Of course!  And then she's in your arms again and all is right with the world.  The hubbs is climbing the walls wanting to hold her.  Finally, he is able to give her the first bottle, and all is right with the world.  Days go by, you stay in the hospital because you don't want to miss a moment. Then it's time and you wonder how it's possible that they are just going to let you walk out the doors with this precious angel.  But they do, and it's onto a new life.  Some time goes by, and the judge says "She's yours."  Of course, you have known this all along.  From the moment of the first cry.  She's all yours, and always will be.   This, my friends, is the BEAUTY of adoption.  And this, is why we continue to fight.  For when you experience that miracle once, you can't help but want to do it again.  I love you Micaiah Hope Sholty.

keepin it real

You get a phone call in the middle of the day and your heart stops in it's tracks.  It's "her".  Your adoption consultant.  She only calls if there's news.  There's 2 kids that need homes NOW.  Would you be willing to take them?  You freeze, your heart skips several beats, and you suddenly want to vomit.  Of course, of course we will take them.  Meeting tomorrow morning with the agency?  Sure, we will make it happen. What to do...what to do?  You walk in circles, call those closest to you.  Try not to get excited they say.  You've been hurt enough.  Of course I won't.  In actuality, you already have the names picked out.  You know who you can get clothes, toys, a bed from.  Try not to get your heart set on it.  It's just a meeting.  In actuality, you have their education and their life story already planned.  You don't sleep a wink that night thinking of "them".  What do they look like?  Will they love us?  The meeting takes forever.  You suddenly have spastic colon and want to throw up.  Am I coming across as good enough?  Do they see how much I love this man beside me?  Do they see what an amazing man and father he is?  The cost?  oh...the cost.  That's fine.  We will figure it out.  We will sell all of our possessions and move into a shack if need be.  Kids are worth it right?  You leave feeling like you've been hit by a truck.  The meeting was fabulous, you debate about whether or not to tell the other little one in your life.  You get home, want to sleep but so much to do.  Coffee it is!  Then, the phone call again.  Your head spins, you pace, you beg God to make this happen.  It's too perfect you have said so many times in the past 24 hours.  Oh, someones talking to me.  Oh...Oh...ok, I see.  And the world stops turning.  It's not going to happen.  We don't fit the mold of what they are looking for. Suddenly the names, the plans, the hope disappears, and once again, you are left with a hole the size of Texas in your heart. This, sadly, is the reality of adoption.  It's the ups, the downs, the severe downs.  You have been taught to praise the Lord even in horrible circumstances.  What you really want to do is crawl into the bottom of that old Tequilla bottle and don't come out.  Put on the happy face.  Dry the tears in front of the kiddos.  And you move on and continue to fight when every ounce of your being wants to give up.  Adoption, in its purest form, is one of the most beautiful experience this world can offer.  The road is hard, though.  We're taking a break...licking our wounds....rethinking every decision made in this journey...and contemplating whether or not we have what it takes to continue.  It's a time in life when we don't want to discuss it.  We don't want to hear how it will "all work out" in the end.  That God has a child for us.  I don't want to hear it right now.  I've had enough Christianese for a year.  What I know, is that my God is good.  He is a just God and I love him.  I am mad as hell at him right now, but I deeply love him and he knows that.

Soooo, you get paid to watch people sleep?

Yeah, we hear this all the time.  We arent offended by it by any means, but I thought I'd take a few minutes to let everyone out there know what it is that Twin and I actually do :)  We are both RPSGT's, which stands for Registered Polysomnogram Technologist.  Say that three times while spinning in circles..I dare you!!  Its a fancy name for Sleep Tech.  What is it that we do?  Well, we get paid to watch people sleep.  TAA DAAAAA!  ok, no, really, we do lots of stuff while our patients are sleeping.  Lets discuss sleep apnea for a minute.

Sleep Apnea is essentially when you stop breathing in your sleep.  Heres what happens if you have sleep apnea.  YOU DIE!  ok, maybe not instantly, but it can lead to a whole lotta nastiness if left untreated.  When you fall asleep, your muscles relax.  This includes the muscles in the back of your throat and surrounding areas.  If you have sleep apnea, when these muscles and tissue relax, they collapse, cutting off your airway.  This makes your oxygen level drop, which prompts your brain to say "Hey, wake up and breathe!".  You take another breath or two, your body relaxes again, and your throat closes off.  When your oxygen level drops, your heart rate increases.  When your level goes back to normal, it decreases.  Its been compared to running a marathon in your sleep (but you dont get the physical benefits of running the marathon).  Most people havent the foggiest idea that they have sleep apnea, they just know that they are tired all of the time.  Many patients come in and say "Well, my spouse says I snore really loud and that I stop breathing, but I think I'm fine".  We hook them up, and no, they arent fine, they are half a beat away from death.  I've honestly had some nights where I stare at a patient and wonder how in the world they are still on this earth.  Sleep apnea leads to high blood pressure, obesity, impaired cognitive skills, chronic fatigue, and on and on. 

How do we treat it?  Well, theres this crazy little invention called CPAP.  Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.  CPAP is this little machine that sits beside the bed.  We hook a hose to the machine, with the other end going to a face mask that we fit you for.  When we turn it on, it filters room air through the machine, to the hose, to the mask.  This air goes into your nose, down your throat, into your lungs.  When the air reaches those muscles/tissue that have collapsed, it forces its way through, opening those muscles and holding them open.  This keeps your airway open, which regulates your oxygen level, heartbeat, etc.  At this point in the study, Twin and I both usually yell "BOOM! SAVED YOUR LIFE!".  Everyone has a certain level of air pressure that keeps the airway open, so part of our job is to work with different levels and see which one works best for you.

How do we do it?  Well, we are the awesome super twins, so we can do anything!!!!!!!!  hehehe  I took some pics last night, so I'll share those with you. 

Head Box

This is our main head box.  See all those little wires?  The majority of those go on your head in various places.  These are EEG leads.  They monitor your brain waves which lets us know when you are awake, asleep, and what stages of sleep you are getting into.  We put some on your head and face.  Theres also a bunch more monitors that we put on your neck, chest, abdomen, finger, and legs.  Its takes the average tech about a half-hour to hook all of the monitors on.  At some point during this time, its an absolute guarantee that the patient will ask "So, you really expect me to sleep with all of this on?".  We shake our head and laugh like its the first time we've ever been asked.  Honestly though, if I had a quarter for every time I've been asked that, I'd be much richer.  hahahahaha 

Heres a pic of my cart after I've got everything laid out to hook someone up.

Lots of goo and sticky stuff goes all over your body.  Its pretty awesome to rip off in the morning, especially if your crabby or rude to me!!!!!!!!  So, be nice to your sleep techs or you'll be missing hair in the morning!!!

Heres our tech room.  Its messy and cluttered, but we love it :)  It has a tv, which is AWESOME.  Twin and I always sit next to each other.  If someone gets in between us, we harass them until they leave the lab crying.  hehe  No, maybe not, but we think about it. 

And heres the main part of our job, what we stare at all night long until we are quite sure we are going blind.

All of those pretty monitors we put on you send all these pretty lines to our computers.  The top two are monitoring your eyes, as your eyes will twitch when you are in REM sleep (which is why its called Rapid Eye Movement).  The next 7 lines are your brain waves.  Depending on the shape and size of them, we can tell when you are awake, asleep, or fighting the zombie apocalypse.  The next two are your chin monitors.  They also change during REM sleep.  The next three are the belts that we put around  your chest and abdomen.  They go up and down with each breath you take.  If/when they go flat, it means you arent getting the signal to breath, which is a whole other problem.  The next red line is the cpap machine line.  This person is on cpap, so I make sure that line stays nice and wavy.  When it goes flat, I know theres an obstruction and its time to raise the pressure level.  The next two are leg monitors.  They check for restless leg syndrome.  Fun times!!!  Then you have two ekg lines, followed by your oxygen level and respiration levels.  The numbers on the bottom are associated with the cpap machine, what level you are on and what the leak is for the mask.  (for all you privacy law people out there, you can see I took this pic at an angle that does not show any patient information)

So, this is what we do while you are sleeping :)  Its an awesome job, and Twin and I both love it. 

Its either we laugh or...we laugh at our patients when they are sleeping!!!!!

Angie

adoption opportunity

I just took some ambien, so lets hope I can get this out before it kicks in. Such is the life of a sleep tech/mom/wife. I have NO circadian rhythm. Ok, so the sweet sweet Jennea is hosting an arbonne party for us this weekend. This darling woman is donating 20% of the proceeds to our adoption. If you haven't heard of or seen Arbonne, it is AMAZING YUMMY STUFF for health, body, and life. The make up is FABULOUS! I realize many of you won't be able to make it to the party, so here is the online information.

www.arbonne.com, enter ID #19980211 in the top right hand corner. Click login. (there is no password needed)

thank you to all of you! Please Please do not think I will be "offended" or not name my baby after you if you can't go. There will be many many opportunites, give aways, fund raisers etc. in the ffuture. I thank the Lord for each and every one of you every day.



its we either laugh or......we buy make up! whoop whoop!


chrissy

I think I just peed my pants!!!!!

In the words of my beloved Pastor WOAH BABY!!!! We JUST received an email from our angel Gertrude in Haiti. Gertrude is the head of the orphanage that has baby Alvarez. She is doing a private adoption for us!!!!! We're getting our little boy!!!!!! God is SO AMAZING!!! We're also inquiring about the little girl, Kendina!!!! I have NO idea what the cost is, but we're GOING for it with God in the lead!!!! Best news ever! Also, she said we can have this done in NINE MONTHS!!!! NINE MONTHS!!!! It's like I JUST got pregnant!!!! Can you all imagine?! NINE months and they could be home WITH ME! IN MY ARMS! I'm just shaking and having a heck of a time typing this. First things for us to do is to apply for passports and do an international home study. WHOOP WHOOP!!!!! God has answered our prayers!!!!!!


It's either we laugh or......idk...we just laugh and thank our God!!!

chrissy

Sitting on yellow

I wish I could say more to update about our adoption process, but we're still just sittin ducks right now. We're waiting on some sort of information to let us know which direction we need to proceed. Do we send the agency our application and money? Or do we sit tight and see if Baby Alvarez is going to be eligible for a private adoption? We're just waiting....and waiting....and waiting. I am at peace, I guess. I want information, however, this ain't my first rodeo when it comes to adoption. I know full well that we will get the information and direction when it's time. I feel like I'm sitting at a yellow light, revving my engine, ready to go all gang busters on this, but God is just saying WAIT!!! HANG ON!!! I WILL TELL YOU WHEN TO GO! So....I wait, and pray, and wait and pray some more. It's the calm before the storm , I know. As soon as I know something, all you praying for us will know something. Until then, PLEASE continue to pray for us. Specifically, please pray that we get some definite answers soon as to how to proceed with all this.

Love you all,

chrissy

Adoption Update

Been a while since I updated, so here we go. Studly received an email on Saturday from a lady who said she was a friend of Gertrudes. Gertrude is the head of the orphanage in Haiti. Anyway, this lady volunteers for HealingHaiti and said she could help in the process of adopting Alvarez. Now, as a refresher, Alvarez is the original baby that drew us to consider Haiti. We had been told that we couldn't be guaranteed Alvarez because of the waiting list and so on. We were also told by the adoption agency that they don't have an official working relationship with Gertrudes orphanage. So, all of this is confusing, and I hope you are following me. But, in just reading this, you can see why Tom and I have not sent in the official application yet. We are dealing with the Haitian government here and we want to make sure everything is legit before we start sending money and applications down there. In a nut shell, this is what we found out tonight. Up to this point, Gertrude has been doing private adoptions only. Apparently, there are many people who are pushing for her to change that and place the children with an agency. She has not decided what she wants to do yet. This woman who emailed us is going down to visit Gertrude at the end of this month and will have an answer when she gets back. So, this is where we are at. If we want Alvarez, we have to wait a few more weeks for Gertrude to decide what she is going to do. If she wants to do private adoption only, then we wait until Alvarez is declared eligible for adoption, and then we adopt him from her. If she decides to place him with an agency, we roll the dice and see if we get him. If we don't care which child we get, then we go ahead and send in the application and $200. At this point, we have decided to wait and see what Gertrude decides. We really feel as though Alvarez is who drew us to Haiti in the first place, we want to see if we can adopt him. Waiting a few weeks is not going to kill me. It's driving me nuts, but it won't kill me. so, there you have it! Our adoption update!


chrissy

I dont feel like laughing today

Hello everyone out there in the universe :) Well, this morning finds me brainstorming, well, trying to brainstorm at least. Twin and I need some help! We need some ideas on how to raise some money for this Haiti baby. Like my Twin posted earlier, the advertisement thing didnt work out. Evidently, the "powers that be" dont appreciate you actually being successful at getting people to click on the ads. Whatever. We may start shopping around for a different blog space, but until then, I'll lick my wounds and move on. Chris and Tom are still working on getting officially "matched" with an agency. Once they do, they can go ape crazy with applying for grants. We will be doing another yardsale, on a smaller scale this time, hopefully in the spring.

I'm going to be blunt with you. I havent asked my Twin permission to do this, but I'm going to do it anyway. My Twin telepathy is telling me that she wont mind. My telepathy is rarely wrong. Anyway, we need to start praying BIG. BIG, BIG, HUGE, MONSTER PRAYERS! People, we need 20 grand. Yes, as in 20,000 dollars. Yes, Chris and Tom have already done a great job at raising money, and grants will help, but my prayer is for the whole stinkin thing to be covered. And for it it happen NOW! Is it unrealistic? Yep, sure is. I'm not stupid. And I'm not delusional. I am frustrated however. Frustrated to a level that I didnt know I could reach. This isnt fair people. Its not fair for a family to long for a child like they have. Its not fair that my sister has to wait. Its not fair that they've literally had children ripped out of their arms and sent home. It's not fair and I'm sick of it. Yes, I know my God is sovereign, I know my Gods timing is perfect, I know that I (we) are to remain faithful...but I cannot help but be frustrated and want to know why. WHY ARE THERE SO MANY ORPHANS AND SO MANY FAMILIES THAT WANT THEM?!!! WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SO DAMN HARD!??? I dont know that I'll ever understand this.

I'm throwing a tantrum and honestly, I dont care. Adoption is beautiful, but it can also be ugly. Today I'm feeling the ugly. I'm feeling it for my sister. This is the hard part about loving someone as much as I love her. What hurts her, hurts me, and vice versa. We cant always take the hurt away from each other, and that makes us hurt even more.

All this to say, we need help in brainstorming ideas on how to raise money. Anything you can think of, please post either on the blog, or on facebook.

Its either we laugh or....I dont feel like laughing today

Angie

well shoot

Soooo.....apparently blogspot does not condone people click click clickin on ads to generate income. so they disabled our ads. It was a nice thought at least. bummer

Switching Laundry

I had a dream the other night. In it, for some odd reason, Studly and I were getting divorced. I was dating a "new guy". What I remember of it, is me texting Studly saying, "We have to get back together. I'm sick of having to teach this guy all about me." This really got me thinking of just how well Studly and I know each other. Over the years, we have had our ups and downs, ins and outs. We have always said "divorce is not an option", yet there were times I was seriously considering it. Marriage is like that. Most days are good, some are bad, others are horrid. However, we stick it out. Seriously, who else out there knows which of the million pillows on our bed is the one I actually use? Who else knows that I have to have a fan AND a humidifier running every night regardless of temperature? Who else knows that the tips of Studlys eyelids turn pink when he's too tired? He knows that I hate running errands more than anything in this world, so he does them. I know he can scrape brains off of sidewalks, yet can't stomach dirty dishes, so I do them. He knows what's so funny about me asking him to switch the laundry. It's an inside joke I will let you in on. My husband can make ANYTHING peverse. Case in point "Hey Studly, would you switch the laundry?", I ask innocently. "I'll switch your laundry." he replies with a wink. "Hey Studly, will you take the garbage out?" "I'll take your garbage out" he says. Oh for Petes sake pervert! But it makes me laugh every time, and therefore, he ALWAYS says it. My point being, I can't imagine having to "retrain" another man. I can't imagine having to explain how I make my coffee, what my favorite soda is, what my job entails, or how I like to sleep. This man knows me better than I know myself. So it's easier to just work through the problems, than to have to start over. Besides, after almost 14 years of marriage, I am pretty glad he still likes to "switch the laundry. "

I love you Studly

It's either we laugh or....we sell our husbands to the lowest bidder.


Chrissy

Things I've said...

For awhile, I've been waiting on some "funny" material to blog about. It just hasnt come to me. Then yesterday I realized that my whole life is hysterical. Seriously funny stuff. I think I've become immune to my boys' antics and just accept them as normal, everyday life. I then started thinking of the things that I have said to my boys recently, and yes, I have plenty of material. So, here is a list of things that I have said to my children recently. I giggle to myself when I think about it now. I assure you, none of these are made up. And I'm quite sure you have said many of them to your own kids....maybe.

1. Abe is not a toy, he is a little boy!

2. Stop trying to climb out the window

3. Stop trying to climb in through the window

4. Dont throw the cat out the window! (I seriously need to replace my screens)

5. Keep that lightsaber in the car or you're going to hit someones car with it and that'll cost me money! (as he is waving his lightsaber out the window while I'm driving down 18th St.)

6. Stop licking your brothers head!

7. Okay, fine, but you boys at least have to put underwear on in the house

8. Stop playing with your tooshie, its not a toy!

9. Fine, you be Buzz, He'll be Woody, and I'll be the mom drinking in the corner!

10. Either put that cat down, or he's going to scratch out your eyeballs/scratch your face off/rip your arm off with his teeth/hunt you in your sleep.

11. Max is not a horsey (my sisters dog)

12. No, you cant go live with Aunt CeCe (Chrissy)

13. Stop trying to put underwear on the cat!

14. Either sit and eat that food or I'm going to superglue your butt to the chair; and then you'll walk around with chairbutt and everyone will laugh at you. (I've had to get creative with my threats)

15. I'm not sure Aunt Chrissy wants to name her Haiti baby "Puddin"

16. No, you cant go live with Mamaw Miller either

17. its not polite to fart in church

18. You boys better leave your dad alone, he's at his breaking point

19. If I hear you talk like that to your brother again, I'm going to rip your tongue out of your head!

20. No, we cant go buy bean seeds to you can grow a beanstalk and visit the giant

21. No, I don't think Jesus is at the end of the beanstalk either

22. Stop trying to pee on your brother!


These are the ones I cant think of just off the top of my head. I love these crazy, wild, unpredictable boys. Yes, there are days when I seriously consider running away, but I know that I'd come back :)

Its either we laugh....or we sell our boys to the gypsies!

Angie

Interview with Kaya Bug

1. What is your favorite color? --My favorite color is Liberty Green (um...what?)

2. What is your favorite animal besides your cousin?-- All animals. I like geckos

3. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?-- Japan so I could see Shammie, Autumn, and Savannah

4. What is your favorite food?-- Fall off the bone Texas Roadhouse ribs

5. Who is your favorite....mommy or daddy?-- Oh gosh, mom, that's not nice.

6. What is your favorite tv show?-- What are the shows I watch mom? oh gosh, um, Amazing World of Gumball

7. What is your favorite past time?-- write stories, draw horses, listen to my Ipod

8. Who is your best friend?-- Emma Dorton and Eli

9. What do you want to be when you grow up?-- A Marine Biologist

10. Which one of your 2 million pets is your favorite?-- Max the dog

11. What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?- "when i was at school, my best friend, um, she um, she dropped her milk and it went all the way down my pants. And I had to go to the office, and, the first graders just got in from recess so they were at the watering fountains. And I had to walk past them. And one whispered to the other, look at the 3rd grader, she peed her pants. " ( she tells this story with a bright red face)

12. Do you want to have kids when you grow up?-- I want 20 of them. (that's MY girl)

The front lines of adoption

Ever since our hearts were directed towards Haiti for adoption, my mind has just been reeling. It is a hurry up and wait game. A few things have really hit me hard the last week or so. The main one being that my heart just BREAKS for the families in Haiti. It is one of the poorest countries in the world. In order for me to adopt a child there, tragedy has to take place. Such as, a baby loses it's mother, either by death or by just straight despair. These families are having to make the choice to place their children for adoption so the child has a chance to even survive. So many times it's not that they find themselves in a crisis pregnancy, it's that they find themselves not able to feed themselves, let alone their child. So they take their child to the orphanage in the hopes that they will be adopted by someone who can feed them, care for them, and love them. My heart just breaks for the people of this country. In the case of baby Alvarez, he has his shot records, he is healthy, he is not malnourished. Any one of these things is rare, all 3 are practically unheard of. No one knows for sure what happened to his mom, but chances are she died, and his dad can't take care of him. This just breaks my heart. This little guy is loved and cherished by his biological family, but they can't take care of him. This type of story is not unusual in Haiti. I may have to go through red tape, spend a ton of money, and ache to hold them, but in the end I get a child. It's all happy day for me. The real sacrifice is not for me, it is for them. I can only hope that I can give these kids a life that their parents deem worthy. I have found myself praying more for the families of these kids, and the kids, than for myself. This is the reality of adoption. God does not allow births of children for the soul purpose of adoption. What God does is make beauty from ashes. What Satan intended for evil, God has made good. God takes these children and holds them, and stirs our hearts to adopt them.


We have sent an email to the agency to let them know that we are going forward with all of this and to expect our application this week. Once the application is accepted, we move on to step 2. If you all want to take a look at what our process is, go to this website. www.haitianadoption.org
Please continue to pray for our adoption, and even more so, for the people of Haiti.

Lead us Lord,

chrissy